Serum Magnesium Levels and Preeclampsia Risk in Pregnant Women in Ogun State

Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy associated with significant maternal and perinatal morbidity in Nigeria. Serum magnesium, a mineral involved in vascular smooth muscle relaxation and endothelial function, has been postulated to play a protective role against hypertensive complications of pregnancy. This study evaluates serum magnesium levels in pregnant women with and without preeclampsia attending antenatal care at a secondary healthcare facility in Ogun State, South West Nigeria. A case-control design was used, recruiting 80 women with preeclampsia and 80 normotensive pregnant controls at matched gestational ages. Serum magnesium was measured by the xylidyl blue colorimetric method. Blood pressure, urinary protein, and 24-hour urinary magnesium excretion were also determined. Dietary magnesium intake was estimated using a validated food frequency questionnaire. The study hypothesises that preeclamptic women will exhibit significantly lower serum magnesium levels compared to normotensive counterparts, consistent with existing international evidence. Findings will provide locally generated data to support the rationale for magnesium supplementation in antenatal care protocols in South West Nigeria. Keywords: serum magnesium, preeclampsia, pregnancy hypertension, antenatal care, Ogun State.