title: [Pathophysiology and therapy of magnesium deficiency in pregnancy].
abstract: We determined serum magnesium(Mg)-levels in 67 pregnant women in late pregnancy. 42 gravidae complained of nightly muscle cramps; 21 of them received 1.8 g monomagnesiumaspartate twice daily per mouth for 4 weeks. 2 and 4 weeks after the initiation of therapy serum Mg-levels were again determined. Serum Mg-levels were lower in pregnant women as compared to a control group of non pregnant women. Gravidae complaining of muscle cramps had significantly lower serum Mg-levels than women without muscle cramps. The administration of Mg was associated with a significant rise in serum Mg-levels as early as 2 weeks after the initiation of therapy. Our study indicates that nightly muscle cramps during pregnancy might be a sign of a latent magnesium deficiency which can be influenced by oral magnesium.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008275:Magnesium Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009120:Muscle Cramp / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D001224:Aspartic Acid; D008274:Magnesium
vernacular_title: Zur Pathophysiologie und Therapie des Magnesiummangels in der Schwangerschaft.