Magnesium for skeletal muscle cramps
Scott Garrison, Christina Korownyk, Michael R. Kolber, G. Michael Allan, Vijaya M Musini, Ravneet K Sekhon, Nicolas Dugré
Abstract
We searched for all high-quality published studies evaluating the e ectiveness of magnesium to prevent muscle cramps and found five studies in older adults, five studies in pregnant women, and one study in people with liver cirrhosis. The studies in older adults included 271 participants (61.6 to 69.3 years of age) and the studies in pregnant women included 408 participants. The single study in people with liver cirrhosis enrolled only 29 people, not all of whom experienced cramping. There were no studies of people who cramp while exercising. Magnesium was compared to placebo in nine of 11 studies, and compared to calcium, vitamin E, vitamins B and B , and no treatment, in two studies of pregnant women. The included studies ranged from 14 to 56 days of treatment. Magnesium was given orally in 10 of 11 studies, and by four-hour intravenous infusion on five consecutive days in one study. Funding for included studies came from a manufacturer of magnesium tablets in two studies, independent sources in three studies, and was not reported in six studies.