We have developed two rodent models of diet-induced magnesium-deficiency in which histologically defined cardiac lesions can be induced within two to three weeks. During the development of these lesions, the magnesium-deficient animals exhibit circulating cytokine levels which are indicative of a generalized inflammatory state. Dramatic elevations of the macrophage-derived cytokines, IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-alpha together with significantly elevated levels of the endothelial cell-derived cytokine, endothelin, were detected in the plasma of these animals. We believe that the pathophysiological effects caused by the action of these cytokines may play a role in the promotion of cardiovascular pathology associated with magnesium deficiency.