Magnesium in Pregnancy

Did you know that 60-90% (depending on age group)(1) of reproductive aged women are not consuming enough Magnesium in America? This is a big problem, and even more so in pregnancy. In prenatal nutrition, we have heard about the need for things like Folate (please don't use Folic Acid), but we have not heard much on the need for Magnesium. Possibly because the goal of prenatal nutrition is to grow healthy babies, not the functional health of the mother. With the increasing rise of maternal health issues and death, this needs to change. (I am taking a little bump off my last post where I discussed how disappointed I am in the prenatal vitamins available in the market. If you want to know why, "Your Prenatal Vitamin Sucks" click here.)

Magnesium in Pregnancy

Written by Sarah Thompson Functional Medicine Acupuncturist & Doula

So, What Does Magnesium Do?

I think the real question here is, "What DOESN'T Magnesium do?" Magnesium (Mg+) is required for over 300 different actions in the body.(2) In pregnancy, there is an increased risk of complications and poor birth outcomes when a mother is deficient in Magnesium. Supplementation with Mg+ has been shown to decrease these complications and poor outcomes.(4)  But, why? What does magnesium do in pregnancy that is so important?

Embryonic Development

The development of an embryo is a complex and fascinating event that requires several different, and equally important nutrients. During the initial development of an embryo there are genetic and cellular changes happening at a very rapid rate, with a small human being present by week 8 with limbs, ears and facial features (how cool is that!). Magnesium deficiency is associated with an increased occurrence of birth defects, due to its critical role in embryonic gastrulation(5)...huh? Gastrulation is one of the very first steps in embryonic development. It is the step in which the initial single layer of cells is converted into a multilayered structure of cells and occurs around the 3rd week of gestation. This is the beginning of cellular differentiation, and this process sets the foundation of the development of each organ system. This is why preconception nutrition is MORE important that prenatal nutrition in the prevention of birth defects...all of this is happening before a mother even knows she is pregnant most of the time.

Glucose Metabolism​

Gestational Diabetes affects an average of 10% of pregnancies in the US, and has risen sharply over the years.(6) Gestational diabetes is similar in development to that of Type 2 diabetes, and has a higher incidence among mothers who are overweight, and in low income communities. There is also a correlation with increased incidence found in conjunction with low serum Mg+ levels.(7). Magnesium is required for proper glucose metabolism and utilization, as well as insulin signaling. Magnesium is a crucial part of the Krebs Cycle, the energy production cycle within the cells that produces ATP. Not only does Mg+ play a role in the processing of glucose into ATP, but it becomes a part of ATP transport (90% of ATP is bound to Mg+).(8) Magnesium is also required for insulin receptor function. Deficiency in Mg+ contributes to insulin resistance, and thus an increased risk of gestational diabetes. The catch 22 with diabetes and Mg+ deficiency, is that diabetes itself can cause a Mg+ deficiency due to the increase in urination.

Modulates Vascular Tone

Magnesium is a calcium channel antagonist (blocker); it regulates calcium's ability to enter cells. Magnesium also works as a vasodilator by stimulating the production of Nitric Oxide (which needs estrogen as well), as well as prostacyclin (PGI1).(9) What does this even mean? It means that without enough Mg+, your blood vessels constrict and make it hard for blood to flow efficiently. As far as your prenatal health goes, this increases your risk of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. Like most every other pregnancy related complications, the rate of hypertension and preeclampsia in the US is rising,(9) and Mg+ plays a role in prevention. Want to know more about Gestational Hypertension and Preeclampsia Nutrition? Please ready my other article, "Preventing Preeclampsia."

Regulates Muscle Contraction

Remember above I mentioned that Mg+ is a Calcium channel blocker? This plays into its muscle contracture function as well. Calcium entering a muscle cell causes contraction, Mg+ entering a muscle cell causes relaxation. The correct balance of both is important for healthy muscle contractions...strong, but also not too strong. Magnesium is also a crucial part of the Sodium/Potassium pump. These electrolytes help conduct electrical impulses to the muscle cells, giving them the juice to contract. So, the function of Mg+ in muscle health is to regulate its contractility.

A deficiency in Mg+ is associated with that all too common pregnancy complaint...calf cramps (aka nighttime charlie horses), as well as restless leg syndrome. Most practitioners pass this off as a normal part of pregnancy, that will go away once baby arrives. I see this as a sign of nutritional imbalance and dysfunction. Your uterus is a GIANT muscle that is going to have to do a marathon amount of work at the end of pregnancy. If you are getting dysfunctional cramping in your other muscles, what do you think is going to happen when your uterus begins its important job?

Key to Oxytocin Receptors

A little known fact about Mg+ is that it is necessary for oxytocin to bind to its receptor on the uterus.(11) In fact, for oxytocin to function in the uterus, there must be adequate amounts of both Mg+ and cholesterol available. If not, oxytocin cannot bind to the receptor and cannot do its job effectively. For more about this really cool topic, please read my other blog post, "Oxytocin; the Elvis of Childbirth."

Determining Deficiency​

Diagnosing Mg+ deficiency is a bit of a puzzle, that often needs a skilled strategist to uncover. Serum Mg+ testing is pretty inaccurate. The majority of Mg+ in the body is intracellular, meaning it is found inside cells doing its job, not floating around in the blood, lazily. This electrolyte has a job to do and it does it. So, relying on blood testing to diagnose deficiency isn't a good idea. So, how do we assess for Mg+ deficiency? To be honest, experience and analysis of lifestyle and dietary choices. There are certain aspects of life and diet that make a person more likely to have a Mg+ deficiency. 

Magnesium is primarily found in whole grains, green vegetables, nuts and seeds. By looking at someones diet and analyzing their daily intake of these foods, we can determine if they are getting enough (which most are not). A pregnant mother needs a MINIMUM of 350mg of dietary magnesium per day....MINIMUM, let me say it one more time....MINIMUM! Now, even if someone is consuming these food groups, I want to know how they are consuming them. Food preparation methods are important. All of these food sources that contain high amounts of Mg+, also contain chemicals that keep them locked up within those plants, these are called anti-nutrients. They can actually affect mineral absorption from these food sources. In order to remove these anti-nutrient, specific cooking and food preparation methods need to be employed. Making sure a mother is doing this increases her absorption and decreases her likelihood of deficiency. 

Certain medications have been shown to decrease the body's Mg+ levels: Antacids, Corticosteroids, Antibiotics, Birth Control, Certain Cardiovascular medications, and Diuretics. If you have been taking any of these for an extended period of time such as those with asthma, or birth control prior to conception usage, the risk of deficiency is greater.(12)

Looking into case history can also give us a clue. There is a close relationship between Iron deficiency and Magnesium deficiency, because they are often found in the same food sources. If you have iron deficiency anemia, your risk of magnesium deficiency is greater.

Anther key to identifying low levels of Mg+ are patient symptoms. Certain conditions that are considered common pregnancy complaints can be a sign of a Mg+ deficiency: leg and food cramps, restless leg syndrome, increased occurrence of headaches, and edema.(13)

​Prevention is key! Preconception diet and a good prenatal vitamin can go a long way in prevention of Mg+ deficiency in pregnancy. 

If you find yourself in a situation in which an additional Mg+ supplement may be needed...PLEASE...PLEASE...PLEASE DO NOT purchase and use a Magnesium Oxide or Citrate supplement. These are the most inabsorbable forms of Mg+ (they are also the cheapest). Consult a trained professional to determine the correct form for your presentation. I know there are many different Mg+ compounds on the market, and each is designed to work for specific presentations. So, differentiation is important.

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1. Appendix B: Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies in the U.S. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ewg.org/research/how-much-is-too-much/appendix-b-vitamin-and-mineral-deficiencies-us
2. ​Magnesium. (2019, February 13). Retrieved from https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/minerals/magnesium#function
3. Office of Dietary Supplements - Magnesium. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/
4. Zarean, E., & Tarjan, A. (2017, August 31). Effect of Magnesium Supplement on Pregnancy Outcomes: A Randomized Control Trial. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5590399/
5. Komiya, Y., Su, L. T., Chen, H. C., Habas, R., & Runnels, L. W. (2014). Magnesium and embryonic development. Magnesium research, 27(1), 1–8. doi:10.1684/mrh.2014.0356
6. Ferrara, A. (2007, July 01). Increasing Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Retrieved from http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/30/Supplement_2/S141
7. Yang, S. J., Hwang, S. Y., Baik, S. H., Lee, K. W., Nam, M. S., Park, Y. S., … Kim, S. H. (2013). Serum magnesium level is associated with type 2 diabetes in women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus: the Korea National Diabetes Program study. Journal of Korean medical science, 29(1), 84–89. doi:10.3346/jkms.2014.29.1.84
8. Voma, C., & Romani, A. M. (2014, June 18). Role of Magnesium in the Regulation of Hepatic Glucose Homeostasis. Retrieved from https://www.intechopen.com/books/glucose-homeostasis/role-of-magnesium-in-the-regulation-of-hepatic-glucose-homeostasis
9. Sontia, B., & Touyz, R. M. (2007, February 01). Role of magnesium in hypertension. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16762312​
10. Data on Pregnancy Complications | Pregnancy | Maternal and Infant Health | CDC. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternalinfanthealth/pregnancy-complications-data.htm
11. Antoni, F. A., & Chadio, S. E. (1989). Essential role of magnesium in oxytocin-receptor affinity and ligand specificity. The Biochemical journal, 257(2), 611–614.
    
12. ​Complementary and Alternative Medicine. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.stlukes-stl.com/health-content/medicine/33/000711.htm
13. Harvard Health Publishing. (n.d.). Are your medications causing nutrient deficiency? Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/are-your-medications-causing-nutrient-deficiency