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Zinc and Magnesium Levels of Pregnant Women with Restless Leg Syndrome and Their Relationship with Anxiety: A Case-Control Study

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Abstract

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a multifactorial movement disorder, and pregnancy is seen as a risk factor. This study aims to determine the clinical and psychiatric causes of RLS with a case-control study. The hemogram, biochemistry data, thyroid function tests, and serum element levels of healthy pregnant women (n = 134) and pregnant women diagnosed with RLS (n = 119) were compared. Total Ca, Mg, K, and Na concentrations were measured with an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and an atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used to measure total concentrations of Zn in all samples. The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores were also compared in both groups. Sonographic measurements showed that the fetal biparietal diameter and femur lengths were higher in the RLS group (p = 0.001, p = 0.048, respectively), and abortion history was higher in the RLS group (p = 0.016). Magnesium and zinc levels were lower (p < 0.001 for both) and BAI and PSQI scores were higher (p < 0.001 for both) in the RLS group, and there was no difference between the BDI (p = 0.269) scores. A statistically significant relationship was detected between the BAI and RLS scores in the control and RLS groups (p < 0.001 for both). This is the first study to show that magnesium and zinc deficiency may play a role in the etiology of RLS during pregnancy; the results also showed adverse perinatal outcomes such as high miscarriage.

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Acknowledgments

I would like to thank the staff of the obstetrics unit for cooperation.

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No financial support was received from any institutions or organizations for the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hitit University, Faculty of Medicine, Ciflikcayiri Street, İkbalkent Campus, 19200, Corum, Turkey

    Engin Yıldırım

  2. Spectrophotometric Analysis Laboratory, HUBTUAM Research Center, Hitit University, Faculty of Engineering, North Campus, Ring Road Boulevard, 19030, Çorum, Turkey

    Hakan Apaydın

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  1. Engin Yıldırım
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Engin Yıldırım: Research design, data collection, literature review, article writing. Hakan Apaydın: Data analysis, statistical analysis, article writing.

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Yıldırım, E., Apaydın, H. Zinc and Magnesium Levels of Pregnant Women with Restless Leg Syndrome and Their Relationship with Anxiety: A Case-Control Study. Biol Trace Elem Res 199, 1674–1685 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-020-02287-5

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