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. 2022 Jul;46(5):1054-1060.
doi: 10.1002/jpen.2336. Epub 2022 Mar 6.

Hypermagnesemia and feeding intolerance in preterm infants: A cohort study

Elibene Orro Junqueira  1 , Sergio Tadeu Martins Marba  1 , Jamil Pedro de Siqueira Caldas  1
Affiliations

Hypermagnesemia and feeding intolerance in preterm infants: A cohort study

Elibene Orro Junqueira et al. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2022 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Feeding intolerance (FI) is a common clinical problem in preterm infants often caused by some neonatal disorders and drugs, including antenatal exposure to magnesium sulfate (MgSO4 ).

Objective: To evaluate the association between hypermagnesemia at birth and FI in preterm infants during the first 72 h of life.

Method: This was a cohort study conducted with preterm infants aged <34 weeks' gestation. Infants presenting at least two of the following signs were considered as having FI: vomiting, abdominal distension, the need for continuous intermittent feeding, and delayed meconium passage. Hypermagnesemia was characterized by umbilical serum Mg levels > 2.5 mEq/L.

Results: A total 251 infants were evaluated. The median birth weight and gestational age were 1390 g (IQR, 1020-1070) and 31 weeks (IQR, 28-32). The FI rate was 17.5%. The exposure rate to MgSO4 was similar in the tolerant and intolerant groups (53.1% × 63.6%; P = 0.204), but hypermagnesemia was more frequent in the FI group (40.9% × 24.2%; P = 0.024). The univariate analysis showed that infants with hypermagnesemia were twofold more likely to present FI (odds ratio [OR], 2.16; 95% CI, 1.09-4.26). In the multiple logistic regression analysis, we found that hypermagnesemia was independently associated with FI (OR, 2.51; 95% CI, 1.06-5.91), as well as maternal diabetes mellitus (OR, 2.56; 95% CI, 1.07-6.14), Score for Neonatal Acute Physiology-Perinatal Extension II (OR, 1.051; 95% CI, 1.025-1.078), and brain hemorrhage (OR, 3.61; 95% CI, 1.31-9.91).

Conclusion: In addition to other factors, hypermagnesemia at birth was independently associated with early FI in preterm infants.

Keywords: feeding intolerance; hypermagnesemia; magnesium sulfate; preterm infants.

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References

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