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Teratogenic Effects of Magnesium Deficiency in Rats¹

Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, California 95616

The effect of severe magnesium deficiency on plasma magnesium levels in pregnant and nonpregnant rats and on reproduction was investigated. Magnesium deficiency produced a rapid fall in plasma magnesium concentration, in both pregnant and nonpregnant rats. At term, all implantation sites of pregnant rats fed a diet severely deficient in magnesium showed total fetal resorption. When pregnant females were fed the magnesium deficient diet only between days 6 and 14 of gestation, there was a high incidence of resorptions and gross malformations were seen in full term fetuses. The results demonstrate the rapidity of the effects of severe magnesium deficiency in pregnant rats and indicate the importance of the element for embryonic development.

KEY WORDS: • magnesium • teratogenesis • minerals • plasma magnesium • pregnancy

¹ Supported in part by NIH research grant HD-01743 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Manuscript received 13 February 1976.