Serum Magnesium Level in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Bangladesh

Abstract

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is characterized by glucose intolerance during pregnancy. GDM is associated with an increased incidence of congenital abnormalities usually aggravated by maternal magnesium deficiency. Magnesium is one of the essential trace elements for normal embryogenesis and foetal growth and its deficiency increases mortality and morbidity rate of mothers, embryos and neonates. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the association of serum magnesium with GDM in second and third trimester of pregnancy. This case-control study was conducted in Mymensingh Medical College Hospital during the period from July 2013 to June 2014 to evaluate the association of serum magnesium with GDM in Bangladeshi women. A total of 172 subjects were recruited in this study; among them eighty six women with GDM were selected as case (Group-I) and eighty six healthy pregnant women were taken as control (Group- II). The cases again were subdivided as Group Ia and Ib at second and third trimester respectively. Controls also were subdivided as Group IIa and IIb at second and third trimester respectively. Student's unpaired 't' test was used to compare the data between groups. For analytical purpose 95% confidence limit (p<0.05) was taken as level of significance. Serum magnesium level was significantly decreased in cases compared to that of controls. It was significantly lowered (p<0.001) in cases Gr-Ia (1.3884±0.255 mg/dl) than controls Gr-IIa (1.6651±0.304 mg/dl) at second trimester. The result was also significantly (p<0.001) lowered when compared between cases Gr-Ib (0.9349±0.145 mg/dl) and controls Gr-IIb (1.6674±0.308 mg/dl) at third trimester. The study shows that serum magnesium level is decreased in pregnancy with GDM. So estimation of serum magnesium level may be done in every GDM cases to reduce the incidence of magnesium related complications by timely intervention.Bangladesh J Med Biochem 2016; 9(2): 59-62

The Relationship Between Magnesium Level in Pregnancy with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

“…Thus it could be concluded that assessment of serum magnesium level should be done in each gestational diabetes mellitus case to reduce incidence of complications related to magnesium and also for timely administration of intervention. 15 This study was also supported by previous study by Bardicef 18 , Takaya 19 , and Yinsong Wang 20 . They found that pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus had lower plasma magnesium level than normal pregnant women.…”

“…21 Tasdemir also found that there were no statistically significant differences in serum magnesium concentration between healthy pregnant women and pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus. 15 Further, prospective study by Nabouli which includes 99 pregnant women found that serum magnesium concentration in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus was lower than normal pregnant women (0.89 ± 0.1 mmol/L vs 0.92 ± 0.2 mmol/L). Yet, this founding is not statistically significant, p = 0.51.…”

“…Meanwhile, study by Mishu found that mean magnesium level in gestational diabetes mellitus was 1.3884 ± 0.255 mg/dL and in normal pregnant women was 1.6651 ± 0.304 mg/dL. 15 Magnesium is fourth most abundant cation in human body, related to carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. 16 Magnesium played important role in fetal and maternal wellbeing since it is one of important element for normal embryogenesis and fetal growth.…”

“…Magnesium excretion in pregnant women were 25% more than non-pregnant women due to increased glomerular filtration rate in the second and third trimester of pregnancy. 15…”