Last update Aug. 31, 2020

Magnesium Hydroxide

Compatible

Safe substance and/or breastfeeding is the best option.

Various magnesium salts, such as carbonate, hydroxide, oxide, peroxide, silicate and trisilicate are used as antacids; carbonate, citrate, hydroxide, oxide, peroxide and sulphate as osmotic laxatives and aspartate, citrate, chloride, gluconate, hydroxide, lactate, levulinate, orotate, oxide, pidolate and sulphate) are used as mineral supplements in the form of oral dietary intake or intramuscularly in magnesium deficiency states.
It is also authorized as a food additive (E-528) with stabilizing functions and acidity regulation.

Daily magnesium requirements for breastfeeding mothers are estimated at 310 to 360 mg (MedlinePlus 2017); some countries have established figures of up to 450 mg daily (Hall 2010).

Since the last update we have not found any published data on its excretion in breast milk.

Magnesium is a natural component of milk. The average natural concentration of magnesium in milk is 31 mg/L (15 to 64 mg/L) (Dórea 2000, Feeley 1983).

When ingested, magnesium does not concentrate in breastmilk. Its concentration in milk is very stable and depends little on diet (USD 2000) and other factors, including intravenous administration of magnesium sulphate to the mother: the levels of magnesium in milk of mothers treated with intravenous magnesium sulphate increased in clinically non-significant amounts in relation to mothers not in treatment (Cruikshank 1982, Dorea 2000).

Its low oral bioavailability (AEMPS 2017, Morris 1987) hinders transfer to plasma and, therefore, to breastmilk, as well as transfer to infant plasma via breastmilk.

If the intravenous administration of magnesium sulphate is considered compatible with breastfeeding, all the more reason that salts administered orally will also be compatible (Hagemann 1998).

Various medical associations and expert consensus consider the use of various magnesium salts to be safe during breastfeeding (Hale 2019, Briggs 2015, Dennis 2012, Schaefer 2007, Mahadevan 2006, Richter 2005, Nice 2000, Broussard 1998, Idama 1998).
The manufacturer considers the use of magnesium lactate to be safe during breastfeeding (AEMPS-LAINCO 2017).
List of WHO essential medicines: compatible with breastfeeding (WHO / UNICEF 2002).

Alternatives

We do not have alternatives for Magnesium Hydroxide since it is relatively safe.

Suggestions made at e-lactancia are done by APILAM team of health professionals, and are based on updated scientific publications. It is not intended to replace the relationship you have with your doctor but to compound it. The pharmaceutical industry contraindicates breastfeeding, mistakenly and without scientific reasons, in most of the drug data sheets.

Jose Maria Paricio, Founder & President of APILAM/e-Lactancia

Your contribution is essential for this service to continue to exist. We need the generosity of people like you who believe in the benefits of breastfeeding.

Thank you for helping to protect and promote breastfeeding.

José María Paricio, founder of e-lactancia.

Other names

Magnesium Hydroxide in other languages or writings:

Tradenames

Main tradenames from several countries containing Magnesium Hydroxide in its composition:

Pharmacokinetics

Variable Value Unit
Oral Bioavail. 15 - 30 %
Molecular weight 58 daltons
Protein Binding 33 %

References

  1. Hale TW. Medications & Mothers' Milk. 1991- . Springer Publishing Company. Available from https://www.halesmeds.com Consulted on April 10, 2024 Full text (link to original source)
  2. MedlinePlus. Magnesio en la dieta. Enciclopedia médica. 2017 Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  3. MedlinePlus. Magnesium in diet. Medical Encyclopedia 2017 Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  4. AEMPS - LAINCO Hidróxido de Magnesio. Ficha técnica. 2017 Full text (in our servers)
  5. Dennis AT. Management of pre-eclampsia: issues for anaesthetists. Anaesthesia. 2012 Sep;67(9):1009-20. Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  6. Hall Moran V, Lowe N, Crossland N, Berti C, Cetin I, Hermoso M, Koletzko B, Dykes F. Nutritional requirements during lactation. Towards European alignment of reference values: the EURRECA network. Matern Child Nutr. 2010 Oct;6 Suppl 2:39-54. Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  7. Schaefer C, Peters P, Miller RK. Drugs During Pregnancy and Lactation. Treatment options and risk assessment. Elsevier, second edition. London. 2007
  8. Mahadevan U, Kane S. American gastroenterological association institute technical review on the use of gastrointestinal medications in pregnancy. Gastroenterology. 2006 Jul;131(1):283-311. Review. Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  9. Richter JE. Review article: the management of heartburn in pregnancy. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2005 Nov 1;22(9):749-57. Review. Abstract Full text (in our servers)
  10. WHO / UNICEF. BREASTFEEDING AND MATERNAL MEDICATION Recommendations for Drugs in the Eleventh WHO Model List of Essential Drugs. Department of Child and Adolescent Health and Development (WHO/UNICEF) 2002 Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  11. Dórea JG. Magnesium in human milk. J Am Coll Nutr. 2000 Apr;19(2):210-9. Review. Abstract
  12. Nice FJ, Snyder JL, Kotansky BC. Breastfeeding and over-the-counter medications. J Hum Lact. 2000 Nov;16(4):319-31. Review. Erratum in: J Hum Lact 2001 Feb;17(1):90. Abstract
  13. Broussard CN, Richter JE. Treating gastro-oesophageal reflux disease during pregnancy and lactation: what are the safest therapy options? Drug Saf. 1998 Oct;19(4):325-37. Review. Abstract
  14. Idama TO, Lindow SW. Magnesium sulphate: a review of clinical pharmacology applied to obstetrics. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1998 Mar;105(3):260-8. Review. No abstract available. Abstract
  15. Hagemann TM. Gastrointestinal medications and breastfeeding. J Hum Lact. 1998 Sep;14(3):259-62. Review. Abstract
  16. Morris ME, LeRoy S, Sutton SC. Absorption of magnesium from orally administered magnesium sulfate in man. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 1987;25(5):371-82. Abstract
  17. Feeley RM, Eitenmiller RR, Jones JB Jr, Barnhart H. Calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium contents of human milk during early lactation. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 1983 May;2(2):262-7. Abstract
  18. Cruikshank DP, Varner MW, Pitkin RM. Breast milk magnesium and calcium concentrations following magnesium sulfate treatment. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1982 Jul 15;143(6):685-8. No abstract available. Abstract

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