- The role of magnesium in the body
- Magnesium needs in pregnancy
- Magnesium demand for women of the Polish population
- Magnesium in pregnancy - role in the body
- Should I take magnesium during pregnancy?
- Dietary sources of magnesium
Magnesium in pregnancy is of special importance. Its demand at this time is greater due to the growth of the placenta, the development of the fetus and the increasing body weight of the woman. Additionally, it reduces the risk of premature birth and minimizes the risk of gestational diabetes. Despite this, women often have latent deficiencies of this element, and about 70% of women of childbearing age do not get the recommended amounts of magnesium in their diet. What are the magnesium standards in pregnancy? How much should you consume and in what products is it found?
The need formagnesium in pregnancyis increasing and deficiencies are very common at this time. Evidence from the literature suggests that optimal levels of magnesium are essential for the he alth of the mother and fetus during pregnancy and for the he alth of the baby after delivery. Women should therefore take care of the correct level of magnesium in the body at this particular time. Magnesium during pregnancy can be both supplemented and supplied with food.
The role of magnesium in the body
Magnesium is one of the key minerals for human he alth. It is involved in over 600 enzymatic reactions in the body. It participates in the synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins, is used in the production of energy from glucose, for building bones, heart, nervous system, muscle contractions.
Currently, due to industrialization and the depletion of the quality of the Western diet, it is suspected that subclinical magnesium deficiencies are common, albeit difficult to study. All because in the case of a deficiency of this element in the cells of the body, it is released from the bones, which are the storage of about 60% of the total amount of magnesium in the body.
Research conducted in the USA and Great Britain shows that up to 65% of women consume less magnesium than recommended by the standards (in the European Union 375 mg of magnesium per day).Research on the Polish population shows that as many as 70% of women eat too little magnesium with their diet- on average 220.8 mg a day.
Deficiency symptoms may appear even 4 months after its occurrence. Early signs of a magnesium deficiency may include:
- loss of appetite,
- nausea,
- vomiting,
- fatigue
- and weakness.
Severe hypomagnesaemia is usually accompanied by imbalance of other electrolytes,such as calcium and potassium.
A deep magnesium deficiency causes:
- tetany (usually due to low blood calcium levels),
- heart arrhythmia,
- bone instability
- and promotes the formation of kidney stones.
Magnesium needs in pregnancy
The body's need for magnesium is calculated taking into account the body's growth needs and body weight. For pregnant women, it is higher because of the growth of the placenta, the development of the fetus, and the increasing body weight of the woman. Some publications conclude that the need for magnesium is not related to pregnancy.
This misinterpretation is based on considering only too low serum magnesium (0.63-0.75 mmol / L) as a criterion for magnesium deficiency. Due to the fact that only 0.3% of the total amount of magnesium in the body is stored in the serum, this index is insufficient.
Normomagnesaemia, measured as serum magnesium, does not rule out magnesium deficiency in the body. More adequate, although much less frequently used, methods of measuring the content of magnesium in the body show a relationship between pregnancy and the need for magnesium.
Interestingly, although breast milk is rich in magnesium, it is believed thatmagnesium demand in breastfeeding women is not increasing . It is only increased for women under the age of 19, which is associated with the constant growth of the body and the lack of reaching maturity.
During lactation, breast milk provides about 42 mg of magnesium per day for 750. The reduced urinary magnesium excretion and increased bone resorption ensure sufficient amounts of magnesium to produce wholesome breast milk.
We are talking about a situation where, before and during pregnancy, a woman provided sufficient amounts of magnesium with her diet. Taking into account the results of the research,most women of childbearing age do not meet the body's daily magnesium requirements .
Magnesium demand for women of the Polish population
|
Age (years) |
EAR (Average demand for a group - covers the needs of approx. 50% of he althy, properly nourished people in the group) |
RDA (Recommended consumption - covers the needs of approx. 97.5% of he althy, properly nourished people in the group) |
| 19 - 30 | 255 mg | 310 mg |
| 31 - 50 | 265 mg | 320 mg |
| 51 - 65 | 265 mg | 320mg |
| 66 - 75 | 265 mg | 320 mg |
>75 | 265 mg | 320 mg |
|
| pregnancy | ||
| <19 | 335 mg | 400 mg |
>19 | 300 mg | 360 mg |
|
| lactation | ||
| <19 | 300 mg | 360 mg |
>19 | 265 mg | 320 mg |
|
Magnesium in pregnancy - role in the body
Premature labor
Preterm births are the leading cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity, and their incidence is increasing in some developed countries.
Magnesium may inhibit premature uterine contractionsthrough its calcium antagonistic effects. Magnesium sulfate has been used as a tocolytic (inhibiting uterine contraction) agent for over 50 years.
Studies show significantly lower serum magnesium levels in women who gave birth prematurely (under 37 weeks gestation) compared to women who gave birth at term between 38 and 41 weeks of gestation.
It should be remembered that the concentration of magnesium in the serum is an inaccurate indicator, and studies in which the concentration of magnesium in red blood cells are measured provide much better data.
One study assessed the blood magnesium level in this way in a group of 105 women who gave birth between 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancy, and the cause of the premature birth was not recognized.
The analysis of the concentration of magnesium in the red blood cells of the women showed marked hypomagnesemia in the study group (0.86 mmol / l) compared to the control group (2.96 mmol / l).
The decrease in serum magnesium concentration was also marked, however, it should be noted that the average serum magnesium level in the study group was still within the normal range (0.93 mmol / l versus 1.12 mmol / l in the control group) ).
This indicates that despite the existence of a high magnesium deficiency in the body, its level in the serum may remain within the normal range.
More research is needed to determine the role of magnesium in preterm labor. Accurate assessment of the deficiency and individually tailored therapy would help determine the effectiveness of magnesium sulfate treatment, preventive magnesium supplementation, or increased dietary magnesium intake during pregnancy.
It is now believed thatmagnesium sulfate as a preterm birth control is only effective for maternal magnesium deficiency .
Statuspre-eclampsia
Preeclampsia is a multifactorial disease that affects 2% to 8% of pregnancies and is the leading cause of fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality.
Pre-eclampsia is defined by the National Institute of He alth and Care Excellence as hypertension after 20 weeks gestation associated with proteinuria. The causes are not fully understood, but are believed to include an initial trigger that leads to abnormal vascularization of the placenta followed by a maternal systemic inflammatory response.
Pre-eclampsia can progress and cause:
- eclampsia,
- bearing detachment,
- hemolysis,
- elevated liver enzymes,
- low platelet count syndrome
- and inhibition of fetal growth.
The only definitive treatment for pre-eclampsia is delivery.
Magnesium may play a role in the development of pre-eclampsia, and the use of magnesium sulfate is recommended for treatment. Magnesium sulfate has been shown to have a vasodilating effect and may also play an immunomodulatory role.
The administration of magnesium sulfate reduces the risk of eclampsia and maternal death by 50% . Many studies have compared the levels of magnesium in women with pre-eclampsia with those in the control group.
Studies of women from various ethnic groups have found serum magnesium levels to be significantly lower in women with pre-eclampsia than in women without pre-eclampsia.
Gestational diabetes
Magnesium is involved in the secretion, binding and control of insulin receptor activity. Large meta-analyzes have shown that normal magnesium intake is associated with a reduced risk of type II diabetes, and magnesium deficiency promotes the progression of glucose intolerance and hyperinsulinemia.
Magnesium supplementation has been shown to significantly improve insulin sensitivityin both states of magnesium deficiency and normomagnesaemia. It also improves glucose levels in pre-diabetic patients with magnesium deficiency.
One intervention study clearly showed benefits of magnesium supplementation in women with gestational diabetes . In a controlled, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial, women with gestational diabetes were given either 250 mg of magnesium oxide or a placebo for 6 weeks. According to measurements of serum magnesium levels, all women were deficient in magnesium at baseline.
Diet, magnesium intake and additional supplementation were carefully monitored and recorded. After 6 weeks, womenin the treatment group, they showed significantly better glycemic and insulin secretion control, while the values for women in the placebo group deteriorated over time.
In addition, newborns from mothers receiving magnesium had lower bilirubin levels right after delivery and were hospitalized for less time. It is clear from this study that magnesium supplementation had a significant impact on the he alth of both mothers and newborns.
It is worth noting that the serum magnesium levels in both groups did not change over the course of the study, again providing evidence that serum magnesium levels do not accurately reflect the levels of magnesium in the body.
Leg cramps
Leg cramps affect up to 30% of pregnant women . Research shows that magnesium appears to be effective in treating leg cramps in pregnant women, reducing their severity and frequency.
Probably the effectiveness of magnesium in pregnancy is related to the more frequent occurrence of magnesium deficiency in pregnant women as a result of the fetal needs. Among non-pregnant people, such a positive effect of magnesium supplementation on the reduction of leg cramps has not been observed.
Magnesium supplementation, especially when deficient, can be safely recommended for the treatment of pregnancy-related leg cramps.
Should I take magnesium during pregnancy?
The need for magnesium in pregnancy is increasing and deficiency symptoms are common among pregnant women. These include:
- leg cramps,
- smooth muscle spasms - gastrointestinal cramps, painful periods, premature labor,
- tachycardia,
- shortness of breath and pain around the sternum,
- symptoms of angina,
- feeling sick,
- loss of appetite,
- weakness.
Considering the fact that the majority of women in Poland of reproductive age do not provide adequate amounts of magnesium with their diet and analyzing the importance of magnesium in the proper course of pregnancy, supplementation of this element seems to be the most advisable.
The common measurement of magnesium concentration in blood serum does not really give clear information about the deficiency in the body, therefore scientific publications suggest introducing magnesium supplementation at the level of100-200 mg per dayfor each pregnant woman.
If a deficiency has been found on the basis of a magnesium concentration in red blood cells, the supplement dosage may be higher, but it is best to discuss it with your doctor on an individual basis.
Dietary sources of magnesium
Magnesium is mainly found in :
- kasach,
- walnuts,
- pittedcocoa,
- dark chocolate,
- legume seeds
- and wholemeal cereals - oat flakes, rye or wholemeal bread.
Small amounts of magnesium are found in dairy products and meat, whilehas almost no magnesium in fruits and vegetables .
Highly mineralized waters and hard tap water are good sources of this element .
Magnesium consumed with food is safe in all amounts except in people with kidney disease. Itsabsorbability from food is around 50% .
If a pregnant woman's diet is not rich in whole grains, legumes and nuts, then magnesium supplementation should be considered.
| Product | Magnesium content [mg / 100g] |
| cocoa 16%, powder | 420 |
| sunflower seeds | 359 |
| almonds | 269 |
| buckwheat | 218 |
| white beans, dry seeds | 169 |
| dark chocolate | 165 |
| pistachio nuts | 158 |
| hazelnuts | 140 |
| oatmeal | 129 |
| brown rice | 110 |
| milk chocolate | 97 |
| parsley | 69 |
| wholemeal rye bread | 64 |
| graham bread | 62 |
| barley, pearl | 45 |
| banana | 33 |
| turkey ham | 32 |
| full-fat gouda cheese | 31 |
| smoked mackerel | 30 |
| fresh salmon | 29 |
| beef, roast | 25 |
| pork, pork loin | 24 |
| Toruń sausage | 24 |
| broccoli | 23 |
| green beans | 22 |
| country ham | 20 |
| kajzerki | 19 |
| carrot | 16 |
| strawberry yogurt 1.5% fat | 15 |
| white rice | 13 |
| milk 2% fat | 12 |
| whole chicken eggs | 12 |
| orange juice | 11 |
| lettuce | 9 |
| semi-fat curd cheese | 9 |
| corn flakes | 6 |
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