Up to 10 percent of adults suffer with some level of restless leg syndrome, or RLS, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Health-care professionals do not know what causes RLS, but suspect that there is a genetic link to the disorder. RLS is often a chronic condition, but it can be treated with medications, and, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, several investigational studies indicate that magnesium supplementation may ameliorate the symptoms in some individuals.
Restless Leg Syndrome
People diagnosed with RLS report strange sensations and motor disturbances in the legs that result in discomfort and an intense urge to move their legs. The impulse typically affects people when they are at rest, most often at bedtime. The intense sensation to move the legs often interferes with a patient’s ability to fall asleep and stay asleep, resulting in fatigue and emotional distress. Many individuals diagnosed with RLS have to contend with Periodic Leg Movements during Sleep, or PLMS, according to a study published by lead author A. Wichniak in the “Polish Journal of Neurology and Neurosurgery.” Magnesium supplementation has been shown to improve the symptoms of some RLS patients, although health professionals are not sure how it works.
Magnesium and RLS
Individuals with RLS demonstrate a wide variety of magnesium levels, indicating that the benefit of magnesium supplementation is not necessarily related to a magnesium deficiency. Although magnesium deficiency is not the cause of RLS, magnesium does support muscle and nerve health, regulating muscular contraction and relaxation. In a study titled, “Magnesium Therapy for Periodic Leg Movements-Related Insomnia and Restless Legs Syndrome: an Open Pilot Study” conducted by Dr. M. Hornyak and colleagues and published in the journal “Sleep,” patients who had taken a magnesium supplement for four to six weeks reported an improvement in their quality of sleep.
Magnesium Malate
Magnesium malate is a magnesium supplement that is easily absorbed, according to Minerals Inc. Magnesium malate is formed from a combination of magnesium and malic acid. The salts in malic acid are referred to as malates. When magnesium reacts with malic acid, the magnesium bonds to the malates and a more stable molecule is formed, increasing the bioavailability of the magnesium and making the supplement more effective.
Considerations
If you decide to try a magnesium supplement to treat your RLS, talk to your physician first to determine an appropriate dosage and to discuss potential interactions with other medications. Too much magnesium in your diet can affect your ability to absorb calcium and may lead to magnesium toxicity, according to the National Institutes of Health.
References
- Cleveland Clinic; Restless Leg Syndrome; October 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Magnesium; Steven D. Ehrlich; June 2009
- “Polish Journal of Neurology and Neurosurgery”; Restless Legs Syndrome and Periodic Limb Movements in Sleep: Clinical Features, Epidemiology, Diagnosis; A. Wichniak, et al.; November 2002
- "Sleep"; Magnesium Therapy for Periodic Leg Movements-Related Insomnia and Restless Legs Syndrome; M Hornyak, et al.; August 1998
- MineralsInc.com: Magnesium Malate
- National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Magnesium; July 2009
