Epsom Salts May Reduce Risk of Cerebral Palsy

A recent study conducted at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has found that giving magnesium sulfate, a substance more commonly known as "Epsom salts," to women in premature labor can significantly decrease their chances of delivering a baby with cerebral palsy.

As an inexpensive, readily available compound, Epsom salts are already commonly used to lower blood pressure and delay premature labor in pregnant women.

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is an incurable neurological condition that impairs muscle control, speech and overall cognitive functioning. In most cases of cerebral palsy, babies are born with this disorder due to an anomaly that occurred during fetal development.

However, up to 20 percent of cerebral palsy cases develop after an infant has been born. In these cases, premature labor or a medical mistake is usually responsible for the baby developing cerebral palsy.

Details of the Study

John Thorp, a professor of obstetrics at UNC, led a group of researchers who analyzed over 2,200 cases of premature births. While part of this group was administered magnesium sulfate during their premature labors, the rest were simply given a placebo.

Upon compiling the results of their analyses, the researchers found that:

Women who received magnesium sulfate during their premature labor were 42 percent less likely to have a baby with cerebral palsy.
Women who didn't receive magnesium sulfate during their premature labor were nearly two times more likely to have babies with moderate to severe cerebral palsy.
Use of Epsom salts didn't affect premature infants' risk of death.
Use of Epsom salts created no side effects.

Although researchers are still unsure of exactly why and how magnesium sulfate reduces the risk of cerebral palsy for premature babies, some speculate that this compound stabilizes infants' blood vessels so their brains are less susceptible to damage caused by lack of oxygen. While follow-up studies in this vein are currently underway, some experts are urging doctors to start regularly administering magnesium sulfate to pregnant women in premature labor.

(Source: MSNBC)

Do you have a family member living with cerebral palsy? If so, contact a cerebral palsy attorney for more information and resources regarding your legal rights.