Relationship Between Serum Magnesium Levels in Pregnancy and Pregnancy Outcomes at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30442/ahr.1104-03-301Keywords:
Hypomagnesaemia, Pre-eclampsia, Preterm birth, Pregnancy, Maternal outcomesAbstract
Background: In pregnancy, Magnesium is essential in the formation of new tissues (maternal and foetal), and hyomagnesaemia has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Objectives: To determine the relationship between magnesium levels and pregnancy outcomes among pregnant women attending the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital.
Methods: It is a hospital-based, cross-sectional study. The study population was divided into two groups based on the serum magnesium levels (normal and low). Serum magnesium levels were recorded at recruitment and delivery. Maternal outcomes were compared between the two study groups and correlated with serum magnesium levels.
Results: A total of 126 pregnant women were recruited (out of the 256 pregnant women screened); each arm of the study consisted of 63 participants. Ten participants were lost to follow-up. The mean serum magnesium level for the normomagnesaemic and hypomagnesaemic groups at recruitment was 1.18±0.09mmol/L and 0.40±0.14mmol/L, respectively. The prevalence of hypomagnesaemia was higher at delivery than in pregnancy. Hypomagnesaemia occurred more frequently among women of a higher social class (p = 0.049). Women with hypomagnesaemia were three times more likely to have preterm birth, pre-eclampsia, and postpartum cramps with significant levels of association (p = 0.041, 0.014, 0.001). Age and hypomagnesaemia were predictors of pre-eclampsia (p = 0.041 and 0.028).
Conclusion: Hypomagnesaemia is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as pre-eclampsia, preterm labour/delivery and postpartum uterine cramps. Interventional studies to prove the efficacy or otherwise of dietary counselling or routine magnesium supplementation in pregnancy involving these high-risk groups should also be undertaken.
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