Magnesium during Pregnancy – a Buyer’s Guide for Nerds

Magnesium is essential during pregnancy for preventing complications like pre-eclampsia and preterm birth, supporting fetal development, and addressing common issues such as muscle cramps and stress.

How different varieties of magnesium could be beneficial during pregnancy

Glycinate

Magnesium glycinate is an excellent choice during pregnancy for reducing leg cramps, supporting relaxation, and promoting restful sleep. Its gentle effect on the stomach makes it well-tolerated by most pregnant individuals.

Citrate

Magnesium citrate may support pregnancy by preventing muscle cramps, supporting fetal development, and promoting regular bowel movements, as constipation is common during pregnancy.

Oxide

Magnesium oxide may support pregnancy by reducing leg cramps and supporting fetal development. However, its strong laxative effects may be a drawback for some pregnant individuals.

Hydroxide

Magnesium hydroxide can relieve pregnancy-related constipation but is less suitable for systemic magnesium replenishment compared to other forms.

Malate

Magnesium malate has the potential to support healthy pregnancy by aiding fetal development and preventing common issues like muscle cramps and fatigue, though its effects are less studied compared to other magnesium forms.

Lactate

Magnesium lactate may support a healthy pregnancy by helping to prevent muscle cramps and supporting fetal development. Its gentle effect on the stomach makes it suitable for those with pregnancy-related sensitivities.

L-Threonate

While L-Threonate may support brain health and reduce stress during pregnancy, this form is less commonly used compared to others for general pregnancy-related magnesium needs like muscle cramps or blood pressure regulation.

Taurate

Magnesium taurate may support a healthy pregnancy by preventing muscle cramps and improving magnesium levels, though its cardiovascular benefits are especially notable for managing blood pressure during pregnancy.

Orotate

Magnesium orotate may support a healthy pregnancy by aiding fetal development and preventing muscle cramps, while its cardiovascular benefits may help manage blood pressure during pregnancy.

Ascorbate

Magnesium ascorbate has the potential to support pregnancy by replenishing magnesium and vitamin C levels, which are critical for fetal development, immune health, and preventing issues like leg cramps or fatigue.

Aspartate

Magnesium aspartate may support pregnancy by preventing magnesium deficiency, which can lead to muscle cramps, fatigue, and high blood pressure. Its high bioavailability makes it a good option for maintaining overall magnesium levels.

Chloride

Magnesium chloride may support a healthy pregnancy by replenishing magnesium levels, preventing muscle cramps, and supporting fetal development. Its high bioavailability makes it a good choice for maintaining overall magnesium levels during pregnancy.

Gluconate

Magnesium gluconate may support a healthy pregnancy by reducing muscle cramps, supporting fetal development, and helping manage blood pressure. Its gentle effects make it suitable for those sensitive to other magnesium forms.

Carbonate

Magnesium carbonate may support a healthy pregnancy by preventing leg cramps and supporting fetal development. Its gentle effects on the stomach make it a tolerable option for magnesium supplementation during pregnancy.

Sulfate

Magnesium sulfate is often used in clinical settings to prevent and manage preeclampsia, a pregnancy complication involving high blood pressure. It may also be used as a laxative or muscle relaxant during pregnancy, though only under medical supervision.

How Magnesium benefits Pregnancy – my 17 Notes from Science

Potential benefits of Magnesium for pregnancy, to discuss with your nutritionist or doctor:

1-10 are from Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Associated with Magnesium and Vitamin D Nutrients during Pregnancy—A Narrative Review. While 11-17 are from The Role of Magnesium in Pregnancy and in Fetal Programming of Adult Diseases.

1. Low Magnesium Levels and Fetal Growth
   During pregnancy, low levels of magnesium may interfere with fetal growth and increase the risk of preterm birth. Chronically low levels of magnesium can result in uterine hyperexcitability [12], which can be worsened by maternal anxiety.
2. Magnesium’s Physiological Roles
   Magnesium is critical for various physiological processes, including energy metabolism, muscle function, and DNA synthesis [23]. It regulates blood pressure, glucose metabolism, and fetal bone development during pregnancy [24].
3. Magnesium and Cardiac Function
   Practitioners have known the importance of magnesium for cardiac function for many years [29,30]. The importance of magnesium becomes even more pronounced during pregnancy.
4. Magnesium and Maternal Cardiovascular Health
   Adequate magnesium levels during pregnancy are necessary for ensuring the proper performance of the maternal cardiovascular system, which is crucial for maternal well-being and the health of the developing infant in utero [33].
5. Therapeutic Role in Pre-Eclampsia
   This mineral has a therapeutic role in treating pre-eclampsia [36]. A Cochrane meta-analysis has confirmed that magnesium sulfate treatment can reduce the risk of advancement to eclampsia by >50% in preeclamptic women and may also lower the risk of maternal death [39].
6. Magnesium and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)
   A study showed that the body’s sensitivity to insulin was improved and that the incidence of GDM decreased when magnesium supplementation was used for pregnant women at a high risk of diabetes [43]. When insulin resistance increases during pregnancy [45], ensuring sufficient magnesium intake is crucial for managing glucose metabolism. Its deficiency may contribute to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and other metabolic complications, highlighting the importance of maintaining the best magnesium levels for maternal metabolic health [28].
7. Impact on Gene Expression and Inflammation in GDM
   Moreover, a six-week magnesium supplementation regimen of 250 mg/day magnesium oxide in women with GDM has been demonstrated to impact gene expression and inflammatory markers associated with energy metabolism affected by GDM, specifically downregulating tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 8 (IL-8) while upregulating growth factor beta (TGF-β) [47].
8. Magnesium and Fetal Bone Development
   Magnesium forms and supports fetal skeleton development, with calcium and phosphorus supporting fetal skeleton development [5,47]. The mineral facilitates the synthesis of DNA and RNA, which is critical for cellular development and differentiation in growing bones [48].
9. Importance of Magnesium and Vitamin D
   In summary, this review underscores the importance of ensuring optimal levels of magnesium and vitamin D during pregnancy for the health of mothers and infants. The evidence shows these nutrients’ significant impact on regulating blood pressure, glucose metabolism, and fetal development.
10. Increased Magnesium Needs During Pregnancy
    The need for magnesium increases during pregnancy, but the majority of pregnant women do not meet this increased need.
11. Prevalence of Hypomagnesemia
    Hypomagnesemia is frequently observed in pregnant women, both in developing and developed countries.
12. Magnesium Supplementation and Hospitalization
    Moreover, women receiving oral magnesium were significantly less likely to require hospitalization during pregnancy (RR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.48 to 0.86; three trials, 1158 women) [73].
13. Recommended Magnesium Intake During Pregnancy
    Furthermore, it has to be pointed out that pregnancy and lactation dictate an about 10% higher supply of magnesium, i.e., an RDA of 350–400 mg/day is recommended in pregnancy and of 310–360 mg/day during lactation, compared with 300–310 mg/day for non-pregnant or non-lactating women.
14. Consequences of Magnesium Deficiency
    Pregnant women are at higher risk of developing magnesium deficiency, with maternal, fetal, and pediatric consequences. A magnesium deficiency status during gestation may interfere with fetal growth and development and may favor premature labor.
15. Long-Term Effects on Offspring
    The risk of adult-onset diseases such as insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome has been reported to be higher in children with a low birth weight and whose mother was malnourished during pregnancy.
16. Magnesium and Leg Cramps
    The conclusions of this meta-analysis were in favor of a mild effect of magnesium supplementation in the therapy of leg cramps in pregnant women, in the absence of significant efficacy in the general population.
17. Magnesium-Calcium Interaction
    It has been shown that changes in the intake of Mg may affect the metabolism of other minerals, such as Ca, and vice-versa26. Additionally, Ca has been proven to compete with Mg for intestinal absorption, thus potentially reducing the final intake of Mg.