oral magnesium, and not supplementing it

[caryn]

"Continuing oral magnesium supplementation until delivery does not significantly prolong labor or increase the oxytocin requirement, but it significantly impairs breastfeeding competence..."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=15899543&query_hl=7&itool=pubmed_docsum

(Just more "don't experiment on yourself!" admonishment from your friendly neighborhood watchdog. We routinely have posters wondering about magnesium supplementation as a PE preventative...)

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[jana m]

Caryn,
I am taking calcium/magnesium supplements, but I can never remember why? Is it related to my having had severe PE or the fact that I had pre-term labor?

[caryn]

Probably for the calcium, because it does seem to help lower the risk of severe consequences of PE (although it doesn't change PE rates, it *does* lower eclampsia rates.) I wonder if taking it with magnesium improves uptake of the calcium; does anyone know?

If your doc has approved it, Jana, you could print out the abstract and ask about it. The study's brand new, so I doubt anyone's really familiar with it yet, and I can't imagine anyone really suspected oral magnesium would have *that* much of an effect on breastfeeding.

[blythe]

Caryn, good instincts on your guess that magnesium is important for calcium absorption! When I was researching magnesium a while back that's exactly what I was reading. Unfortunately, it's hard to find completely objective research online about vitamin supplements because so many "complemetary medicine" folks write a lot online, and I don't have the background to know for sure what is accurate and reputable. I did find a Harvard website

http://huhs.harvard.edu/ClinicalServices/NutritionKnowHow/Calcium.htm
" You might decide that you don’t, or can’t, get enough calcium from food sources. (Hint: most children, adolescents women, and many men, consume less than their RDA.) Which calcium supplement you choose depends on other factors in your diet. Optimal calcium metabolism requires adequate amounts of vitamin D and magnesium as well. If your diet has little of these nutrients, you might want to include them in your supplement."

Most vitamin sites seemed to recommend a 2:1 ratio for calcium:magnesium supplementation, but again, I didn't find objective studies on that.

http://www.mgwater.com/calmagab.shtml is the "Magnesium Website's" explanation of how magnesium helps calcium absorption. It's a really interesting read, but I have no way of knowing if it's accurate [;)].

And thanks, Caryn, for the breastfeeding study! I knew mag sulfate delayed milk production / engorgement, but I was shocked to see regular magnesium supplements having an effect on breastfeeding!

[jana m]

I'm am going to the doctor tomorrow and already have a copy of the abstract in my purse. If he says anything interesting, I'll post.

Thanks so much for your help.

[kara]

I was on mag for 5 days and was told that at 31 weeks gestation my body may either not make milk, or it might take 7-10+ days. I had milk within 24 hours. I was also taking a calcium/magnesium supplement as prescribed. Very interesting.

[caryn]

Well, the magnesium doesn't have to work via the mechanism of reducing milk supply, I suppose. Maybe it depresses the baby's suck reflex?

I have *no* idea -- I have to get my hands on the full-text. [:)]