Serum Magnesium and Zinc Levels in Pregnant Women with Preeclampsia Compared to Healthy Controls: Case-Control Study

Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy associated with significant maternal and perinatal morbidity. Emerging evidence suggests that deficiencies in micronutrients such as magnesium and zinc may contribute to its pathogenesis. This study aimed to compare serum magnesium and zinc levels between pregnant women with preeclampsia and healthy controls and to evaluate their association with preeclampsia risk. In this case-control study conducted at Fatemieh Hospital, Hamadan, Iran (2023-2024), 89 pregnant women diagnosed with preeclampsia and 81 matched healthy pregnant controls were enrolled. Serum magnesium and zinc concentrations were measured using commercial kits and biochemical analyzers. Comprehensive demographic, obstetric, and laboratory data were gathered, and statistical analyses were performed using independent t-tests and multivariate logistic regression. Serum magnesium (1.08 ± 0.23 mg/dL vs. 1.21 ± 0.32 mg/dL, p < 0.001) and zinc levels (68.5 ± 7.8 µg/dL vs. 91.5 ± 10.9 µg/dL, p < 0.001) were significantly lower in the preeclampsia group compared to controls. Multivariate analysis indicated that each unit increase in serum magnesium and zinc was associated with decreased odds of preeclampsia (OR = 0.024; 95% CI: 0.002-0.277 and OR = 0.720; 95% CI: 0.625-0.829, respectively). Blood group and proteinuria also independently predicted preeclampsia risk. No significant correlations were found between micronutrient levels and demographic or other laboratory variables (p > 0.05). The findings suggest that lower maternal serum magnesium and zinc concentrations are significantly associated with increased risk of preeclampsia. Routine monitoring and appropriate supplementation of these micronutrients during pregnancy may help identify at-risk women and reduce adverse outcomes.