Magnesium and zinc in diabetic pregnancy

The concentrations of zinc and magnesium in serum were investigated in 23 non-pregnant and 14 pregnant women with insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM) and 20 with gestational diabetes, and in cord blood from newborns of the latter two groups. These groups were compared with healthy women, non-pregnant as well as parturient, and newborns of the latter. In the non-pregnant state the mean serum concentrations of zinc and magnesium were lower in IDDM patients than in healthy control women. Although a decrease in S-Zn and S-Mg was observed during pregnancy in both IDDM and control subjects, the difference between carefully insulin-treated IDDM patients and controls was no longer apparent at term of pregnancy as regards S-Zn, whereas S-Mg was lower at term both in IDDM patients and in insulin-treated women with gestational diabetes. Besides the probable importance of a nearly normalized glucose metabolism in IDDM patients during pregnancy, it is postulated that the altered pattern of plasma proteins in diabetes and pregnancy, and possibly also exogenous insulin may influence the serum concentrations of zinc and magnesium seen at the end of pregnancy.