Mental HealthMagnesium For Infants With Low Oxygen Levels
New evidence suggests that magnesium may help minimize nerve damage in newborns with low oxygen levels, a condition called perinatal asphyxia.
Perinatal asphyxia usually occurs when the mother"s blood pressure drops or blood flow to the infant"s brain is blocked during delivery. The condition occurs in about 0.1-1 percent of live births.
Asphyxia causes glutamate, an amino acid, to build up in the infant"s brain. The excess glutamate allows calcium to flow through cell channels, thereby leading to permanent nerve damage.
This latest study suggests that magnesium sulfate may help prevent this flow of calcium.
Researchers studied 40 term infants with severe perinatal asphyxia and moderate or severe brain injuries. The infants randomly received three doses of intravenous magnesium sulfate or placebo. Treatment was given within six hours of birth and then again after 24 and 48 hours.
Of patients in the magnesium group, 22 percent had abnormal brain exams when they were discharged from the hospital, compared to 56 percent in the placebo group. Additionally, 77 percent of the magnesium group was able to receive oral feedings when they were discharged compared to 37 percent of the placebo group. Fourteen days later, brain imaging showed that fewer infants in the magnesium group (16 percent) had brain abnormalities than the placebo group (44 percent).
Two infants died in each group. Two patients in the treatment group experienced breathing problems after receiving the second dose of magnesium sulfate and require the use of a respirator.
Although these early findings are promising and supported by limited animal research, additional research is warranted in this area.
Magnesium has been suggested as a potential treatment for many other conditions. Currently, strong evidence supports intravenous magnesium sulfate as a way to prevent seizures in pregnant women with preeclampsia, a condition that causes high blood pressure and protein in the urine. Additionally, good evidence suggests that use of magnesium for irregular heartbeat, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), type 2 diabetes, hearing loss, leg cramps during pregnancy, mitral valve prolapse, succinylcholine-induced muscle twitching and thrombolysis after a heart attack.
References
1. Bhat MA, Charoo BA, Bhat JI, et al. Magnesium Sulfate in Severe Perinatal Asphyxia: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Pediatrics. 2009 Apr 6. View Abstract.
2. McDonald JW, Silverstein FS, Johnston MV. Magnesium reduces N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-mediated brain injury in perinatal rats. Neurosci Lett. 1990 Feb 5;109(1-2):234-8. View Abstract.
3. Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. http://www.naturalstandard.com. Copyright © 2009.
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