Infants of diabetic mothers with early hypocalcemia may be related to which electrolyte abnormality?

• A. Hyperparathyroidism
• B. Hypoglycemia
• C. Hypermagnesemia
• D. Hypomagnesemia

Answer: (D)

Magnesium status is closely tied to calcium balance because magnesium is required for the release of parathyroid hormone and for the body's responsiveness to it. When magnesium is low, PTH secretion drops and tissues become less sensitive to PTH, which leads to low calcium levels. In infants of diabetic mothers, early hypocalcemia is a common issue and low magnesium can be a contributing factor, since maternal diabetes can predispose to magnesium imbalance in the newborn. So the electrolyte abnormality most closely linked to this early hypocalcemia is hypomagnesemia.