Comparison of serum calcium, magnesium level and total antioxidant activity in pregnant women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus

Introduction and Aim: Pregnancy is a normal physiological state during which women experience a lot of internal bodily changes. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a complication of pregnancy which is characterized by hyperglycemia due to an error in carbohydrate metabolism. During pregnancy changes in metabolism may induce oxidant stress and it may increase in GDM. The present study was done to compare serum calcium, magnesium and total antioxidant activity in pregnant women with and without hyperglycemia. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted for a period of one year. Total 67 participants were included and their serum samples were analyzed for serum calcium magnesium and total antioxidant activity. Among these 29 were GDM (43%) and 38 were non-GDM (57%). All study subjects were on supplementation of calcium, iron and folic acid. Results: In our study, there were no significant difference in serum calcium, magnesium and antioxidant activity between GDM and non GDM women. Conclusion: Calcium, magnesium and antioxidant activity were maintained well both in pregnant women GDM and non GDM, this may be due to beneficial effect of calcium, iron, folic acid supplementation.