Fibromyalgia is a debilitating condition that can wreak havoc on your life. Not only do you experience constant fatigue and pain, you probably also suffer from a number of additional, troublesome symptoms. While there is no known cure, certain medications and lifestyle changes can help manage your symptoms. Additionally, magnesium chloride may also provide benefits. Talk to your doctor before using any dietary supplement.
About Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a relatively common condition that affects almost twice as many women as it does men, according to the Fibromyalgia Network. The symptoms are usually widespread and chronic, causing sleep disturbances, low energy levels, persistent fatigue, cognitive problems, pain located on specific "tender points" on your muscles, depression, anxiety and gastrointestinal disorders. The exact causes aren't yet known, but nutritional deficiencies, such as low levels of magnesium, may play a role. Your doctor may prescribe a number of medications to manage your symptoms, including sleep medications, antidepressants and pain relievers. Additionally, stress management, exercise, getting enough sleep and eating a healthy diet can also help. Magnesium supplementation has been shown to have a beneficial impact on fibromyalgia symptoms.
Importance of Magnesium
Magnesium is an important nutrient that plays a role in a number of biological processes. Most people do not get enough magnesium from dietary sources, although a true deficiency is unusual. Food sources of magnesium include whole grains and green leafy vegetables. You can also obtain magnesium from dietary supplements, in the form of tablets and capsules, or as magnesium chloride, an easily absorbable, liquid form of magnesium. If you have low levels of magnesium, you might experience a number of troublesome symptoms, such as insomnia, cognitive problems and muscle pain. Some research has shown that patients with fibromyalgia have low levels of magnesium. Magnesium supplementation may improve some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Clinical Evidence
A clinical study published in 1994 in the "Journal of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine," an international, peer-reviewed journal of allergy and environmental medicine, showed that patients with fibromyalgia had abnormally low levels of red blood cell magnesium levels. Another study, published in 1992 in the "Journal of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine," showed that supplementation with magnesium and malate, another important nutrient thought to help fibromyalgia, resulted in a significant reduction in tender points and improved symptoms of muscle pain in study participants with fibromyalgia. However, there are no specific studies using magnesium chloride for fibromyalgia.
Considerations
While magnesium chloride may help improve symptoms of fibromyalgia, you shouldn't use dietary supplementation to self-treat your condition. Consult your doctor if you think you have fibromyalgia. Magnesium may interact with specific medications like antibiotics and cause certain side effects such as upset stomach or diarrhea, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. As with any dietary supplement, inform your doctor if you choose to use magnesium chloride.
References
- "Journal of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine"; Magnesium Deficiency in Fibromyalgia Syndrome; T. Romano and J. Stiller; 1994
- "Journal of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine"; Management of Fibromyalgia: Rationale for the Use of Magnesium and Malic Acid; G. Abraham and J. Flechas; 1992
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Magnesium
- Fibromyalgia Network: Spreading of Pain: Women vs. Men
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