Magnesium supplementation for the treatment of restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder: A systematic review

Nathaniel S Marshall; Yasmina Serinel; Roo Killick; Julia M Child; Isabelle Raisin; Callum M Berry; Tea Lallukka; Rick Wassing; Richard Ww Lee; Rajeev Ratnavadivel; Hima Vedam; Ron Grunstein; Keith Kh Wong; Camilla M Hoyos; Elizabeth A Cayanan; Maria Comas; Julia L Chapman; Brendon J Yee

doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2019.101218

Magnesium supplementation for the treatment of restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder: A systematic review

Sleep Med Rev. 2019 Dec:48:101218. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2019.101218. Epub 2019 Oct 16.

Authors

Nathaniel S Marshall¹, Yasmina Serinel², Roo Killick³, Julia M Child⁴, Isabelle Raisin⁴, Callum M Berry⁵, Tea Lallukka⁶, Rick Wassing³, Richard Ww Lee³, Rajeev Ratnavadivel⁷, Hima Vedam⁸, Ron Grunstein⁹, Keith Kh Wong⁹, Camilla M Hoyos¹⁰, Elizabeth A Cayanan⁵, Maria Comas¹¹, Julia L Chapman³, Brendon J Yee⁹

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Integrated Research and Understanding of Sleep (CIRUS), Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney Nursing School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: nathaniel.marshall@sydney.edu.au.
² Centre for Integrated Research and Understanding of Sleep (CIRUS), Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Australia; Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Nepean Hospital, Kingswood, NSW, Australia.
³ Centre for Integrated Research and Understanding of Sleep (CIRUS), Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Australia.
⁴ University Library, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
⁵ Centre for Integrated Research and Understanding of Sleep (CIRUS), Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney Nursing School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
⁶ Centre for Integrated Research and Understanding of Sleep (CIRUS), Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland.
⁷ Central Coast Local Health Network, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Australia.
⁸ Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Liverpool Hospital, Australia; South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Australia; Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁹ Centre for Integrated Research and Understanding of Sleep (CIRUS), Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Camperdown NSW Australia.
¹⁰ Centre for Integrated Research and Understanding of Sleep (CIRUS), Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Australia; Faculty of Science, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
¹¹ Centre for Integrated Research and Understanding of Sleep (CIRUS), Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

PMID: 31678660
DOI: 10.1016/j.smrv.2019.101218

Abstract

Magnesium supplementation is often suggested for restless legs syndrome (RLS) or period limb movement disorder (PLMD) based on anecdotal evidence that it relieves symptoms and because it is also commonly recommended for leg cramps. We aimed to review all articles reporting the effects of magnesium supplementation on changes in RLS and/or PLMD. We conducted a systematic search looking for all relevant articles and then two reviewers read all article titles and abstracts to identify relevant studies. Eligible studies were scored for their quality as interventional trials. We found 855 abstracts and 16 of these could not be definitively excluded for not addressing all aspects of our research question. Seven full-text articles were unlocatable and one was ineligible which left eight studies with relevant data. One was a randomised placebo-controlled trial, three were case series and four were case studies. The RCT did not find a significant treatment effect of magnesium but may have been underpowered. After quality appraisal and synthesis of the evidence we were unable to make a conclusion as to the effectiveness of magnesium for RLS/PLMD. It is not clear whether magnesium helps relieve RLS or PLMD or in which patient groups any benefit might be seen.

Keywords: Diet; Ekbom-willis disease; MagMin; Magnesium; Mg; Periodic limb movement disorder; Restless legs syndrome; Supplement; Wittmaack-ekbom syndrome.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Dietary Supplements
Humans
Magnesium / administration & dosage*
Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndrome / drug therapy*
Polysomnography
Restless Legs Syndrome / drug therapy*

Substances

Magnesium