title: Levels of Serum Calcium and Magnesium in Pre-eclamptic and Normal Pregnancy: A Study from Coastal India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pre-eclampsia is one of the major causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Though the aetiology is obscure, recent studies indicate that serum levels of calcium and magnesium may have a role in pre-eclampsia.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to find out the relationship of serum levels of calcium and magnesium in pre-eclamptic pregnancies compared to normal pregnancies in women from southern coastal India.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was done in a medical college hospital in southern coastal India.
  
  
  METHODS
  The blood samples from 60 pre-eclamptic women and an equal number of controls were analysed for calcium and magnesium levels. Data on Body Mass Index, maternal and gestational ages, serum calcium and magnesium were compared between the two groups. Outcome of pregnancy was analysed in both the groups and compared.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data was expressed as Mean ± Standard Deviation. Data analysis was done by SPSS version 20. Comparison of serum levels of the elements between the two groups was performed by Independent t-test and Chi-square test and P-value of < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum calcium concentration was significantly lower in the pre-eclamptic group compared to normotensives (7.84 ± 0.87 mg/dl Vs 8.97± 0.69 mg/dl, p<0.001) whereas the levels of serum magnesium showed a marginal difference in both the groups. (1.43± 0.55 mg/dl Vs, 1.57 ± 0.72 mg/dl P 0.257) The study also showed that pre-eclamptic women were older, their BMI was higher and birth weight of babies lower compared to normotensives.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the results of our research, intake of supplements, mainly calcium may help in the reduction of incidence of pre-eclampsia especially in a population of a developing country like ours where the nutrition is poor. Not many studies have been done in developing countries to assess the role of these elements in pre-eclampsia. The actual role of magnesium and calcium supplements needs further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, K.S. Hegde Medical Academy , Mangalore, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Deepa V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Kanagal
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, K.S. Hegde Medical Academy , Mangalore, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Aparna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rajesh
authors.affiliation: Post Graduate, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, K.S. Hegde Medical Academy , Mangalore, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Kavyarashmi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Research Assistant, Department of Biochemistry, K.S. Hegde Medical Academy , Mangalore, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Ullal Harshini
authors.initials: UH
authors.lastname: Devi
authors.affiliation: Professor and HOD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, K.S. Hegde Medical Academy , Mangalore, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Harish
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Biochemistry, K.S. Hegde Medical Academy , Mangalore, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Sucheta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumari
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, K.S. Hegde Medical Academy , Mangalore, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Prasanna Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Shetty
keywords: Calcium; Magnesium; Nutrition; Pre-eclampsia