Magnesium supplementation in pregnancy. A double-blind study.

The effect of magnesium supplementation in pregnancy was studied in 568 women who were treated with 15 mmol magnesium-aspartate-hydrochloride per day or aspartic acid as placebo given orally during pregnancy from less than or equal to 16 weeks. Allocation to the two groups was performed according to the women's birthdates. Magnesium supplementation during pregnancy was associated with significantly fewer maternal hospitalizations, a reduction in preterm delivery, and less frequent referral of the newborn to the neonatal intensive care unit. The results suggest that magnesium supplementation during pregnancy has a significant influence on fetal and maternal morbidity both before and after delivery.