Most of these infants are premature. There is evidence of an inverse association of magnesium sulfate with later motor disability. Magnesium may also reduce the risk of mental retardation. Magnesium is usually given either to prevent convulsions in women with preeclampsia or in an attempt to halt preterm labor. Magnesium is antiexcitotoxic, is antioxidant, and alters the production of nitric oxide.
Magnesium reduces bacterial invasiveness and toxin release.
Magnesium may be important to add to a prenatal vitamin and mineral supplement. Green leafy vegetables, nuts, whole-grain cereals, beans and chocolate are foods high in magnesium. This serum concentration did not produce detrimental electrophysiological or electrocardiographic effects. Magnesium decreased heart rate and arterial pressures and prolonged cardiac conduction times and electrocardiographic variables, except for the QTc interval during sinus rhythm. Magnesium intakes at baseline for all groups were below the RDA and there were no differences in magnesium parameters.