Studies of Serum Calcium, Inorganic Phosphate and Magnesium Levels in Lactating Mothers in Owerri

This study was aimed at evaluating the serum levels of Calcium, Inorganic phosphate and Magnesium together with the Body Mass Index (BMI) in lactating mothers in Owerri. A total of sixty subjects were recruited. Thirty were lactating subjects while thirty were apparently healthy individuals that served as control subjects. Whole blood (5mls) was collected by venipuncture from the subjects using sterile needles and syringes into clean and sterile plain containers. The samples were immediately centrifuged and separated. The serum samples were stored at -20°C prior to use. All reagents were commercially purchased and the manufacturers’ Standard Operational Procedures were strictly followed. Serum Calcium, Inorganic phosphate and Magnesium levels were analyzed by spectrophotometric method and data was assessed using statistical packages for social sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. The results were expressed as mean and standard deviation (mean ± SD). Difference in mean values between groups was assessed by student t-test. Result with probability value of P < 0.05 was statistically significant. The mean ± SD values of serum Calcium, Magnesium, Inorganic phosphate and Body Mass Index (9.28 ± 0.53mg/dl, 2.24 ± 0.38mg/dl, 4.18 ± 0.33mg/dl and 25.73 ± 1.60kg/m²) were higher in lactating subjects which was statistically significant (P < 0.05) when compared with the control subjects (8.98 ± 0.50mg/dl, 1.98 ± 0.24mg/dl, 3.34 ± 0.37mg/dl and 24.20 ± 1.35kg/m²). There was progressive decrease between 0 – 3 months, 4 – 6 months and ≥ 7 months with the mean ± SD values of Calcium (9.43 ± 0.55, 9.29 ± 0.52 and 9.12 ± 0.53)mg/dl and Inorganic Phosphate (4.25 ± 0.36, 4.18 ± 0.36 and 4.11 ± 0.27)mg/dl, and non progressive decrease in the mean ± SD values of Magnesium (2.29 ± 0.40, 2.20 ± 0.39 and 2.24 ± 0.38)mg/dl and Body Mass Index (26.30 ± 1.77, 25.30 ± 1.70 and 25.60 ± 1.27)kg/m² which was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The increase found was due to increased bone resorption and the decrease was due to enhanced mechanism for bone mineralization as the hormones concentrations tend to normalize in prolonged lactation.