Survey study, 1988
Does magnesium change during the menstrual cycle?
In women without PMS, magnesium levels increased in certain white blood cells during the premenstrual period compared with other cycle phases, but stayed the same in plasma and red blood cells.
What they did
Researchers measured magnesium and potassium in blood samples from 11 women without PMS symptoms. Blood was drawn every 4 days and classified by timing in the menstrual cycle (follicular, periovulatory, luteal, premenstrual). They measured these in plasma, red blood cells, lymphocytes, and polymorphonucleated cells. Four blood samples were also collected from men weekly for comparison.
What they found
Magnesium levels in lymphocytes and polymorphonucleated cells (types of white blood cells) were notably higher during the premenstrual period than in other cycle phases. Potassium levels stayed constant throughout the cycle. Magnesium in plasma and red blood cells also stayed constant across the cycle in women. In men, both magnesium and potassium stayed constant.
What it means for you
This shows magnesium changes in some blood cells during the premenstrual phase. The main limits are the very small sample size and that all women were symptom-free, so we don't know if this happens in women with PMS.
11
women
every 4 days
blood sampling interval
4
male blood samples at weekly intervals
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual increase of intracellular magnesium levels in women with ovulatory, asymptomatic menstrual cycles
- Authors
- Facchinetti F, Borella P, Valentini M et al.
- Journal
- Gynecological endocrinology : the official journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology
- Year
- 1988
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 11
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3109/09513599809029349
Original abstract
Intracellular magnesium (Mg) levels regulate several enzymatic reactions and the hypoactivity of Mg has been involved in different pathological states. In addition to other factors, gonadal hormones, too, have been found to interfere in Mg balance. This study evaluates the changes in Mg in women throughout the normal menstrual cycle and those measured at weekly intervals in males. Magnesium and potassium (K) levels were measured in the plasma, red blood cells (RBC), lymphocytes (LC) and polymorphonucleated cells (PMN) of 11 normal menstruating women, in different periods of their menstrual cycle. Blood samples were collected every 4th day. According to the time and LH, progesterone and estradiol levels, they were classed as follicular (Foll), periovulatory (OV), luteal (Lut) or premenstrual (PM). The Menstrual Distress Questionnaire completed by the subjects revealed that no significant symptomatology was present. Four blood samples were also collected from 4 normal males, at weekly intervals. Mg and K were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. LC and PMN were purified by centrifugation on a Ficoll discontinuous gradient. No differences were found in males versus females in the Mg or K contents in the different compartments. In the 4 periods tested, the K levels were constant, in both females and males. The same applies for Mg contents in males. In females, Mg contents, as well as the Mg/K ratio in LC and PMN, showed a significant increase in the premenstrual period compared with the other periods of the cycle. On the contrary, plasma and RBC Mg levels were constant throughout the cycle.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Reproduced under CC-BY.