Decreased amniotic fluid magnesium concentration in diabetic pregnancy

Amniotic fluid samples from 21 diabetic pregnant women were pair-matched for gestational age with 21 samples obtained from nondiabetic women, and analyzed for magnesium concentration. Mean +/- standard deviation amniotic fluid magnesium concentration (mg/dL) was 0.86 +/- 0.21 in the diabetic group and 1.06 +/- 0.22 in the control group (P less than .001). It is concluded that in the diabetic pregnancy, a state of fetal magnesium deficiency exists. This deficient state may contribute to neonatal hypocalcemia in infants of diabetic mothers.