Can you take magnesium during pregnancy?

    Last Updated: October 13, 2024

    Supplementation with magnesium during pregnancy can have health benefits for both mother and baby; however, the quality of evidence is mixed, and large, well‐designed randomized controlled trials are needed to draw firm conclusions.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

    Importantly, adverse effects of magnesium are rare, and supplementation with magnesium before or during pregnancy appears to be safe for mother and baby.[1][2][7][9] That said, women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should consult their doctor for advice before starting to supplement with magnesium.

    References

    1. ^Shepherd E, Salam RA, Manhas D, Synnes A, Middleton P, Makrides M, Crowther CAAntenatal magnesium sulphate and adverse neonatal outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PLoS Med.(2019 Dec)
    2. ^Makrides M, Crosby DD, Bain E, Crowther CAMagnesium supplementation in pregnancy.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.(2014 Apr 3)
    3. ^Luo L, Zhang Y, Wang H, Chen D, Li LThe efficacy of magnesium supplementation for gestational diabetes: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol.(2024-Feb)
    4. ^Qu Q, Rong R, Yu JEffect of magnesium supplementation on pregnancy outcome in gestational diabetes mellitus patients: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Food Sci Nutr.(2022-Oct)
    5. ^Yuan J, Yu Y, Zhu T, Lin X, Jing X, Zhang JOral Magnesium Supplementation for the Prevention of Preeclampsia: a Meta-analysis or Randomized Controlled Trials.Biol Trace Elem Res.(2022-Aug)
    6. ^Scott R Garrison, Christina S Korownyk, Michael R Kolber, G Michael Allan, Vijaya M Musini, Ravneet K Sekhon, Nicolas DugréMagnesium for skeletal muscle crampsCochrane Database Syst Rev.(2020 Sep 21)
    7. ^Luo L, Zhou K, Zhang J, Xu L, Yin WInterventions for leg cramps in pregnancy.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.(2020-Dec-04)
    8. ^Veronese N, Demurtas J, Pesolillo G, Celotto S, Barnini T, Calusi G, Caruso MG, Notarnicola M, Reddavide R, Stubbs B, Solmi M, Maggi S, Vaona A, Firth J, Smith L, Koyanagi A, Dominguez L, Barbagallo MMagnesium and health outcomes: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational and intervention studiesEur J Nutr.(2019 Jan 25)
    9. ^Crowther CA, Middleton PF, Voysey M, Askie L, Duley L, Pryde PG, Marret S, Doyle LW, AMICABLE GroupAssessing the neuroprotective benefits for babies of antenatal magnesium sulphate: An individual participant data meta-analysis.PLoS Med.(2017 Oct)