A Summary of a Magnesium Clinical Study by Hornyak et al. (1998)

Reviewed by John Cutts, PhD | Research & Development

Overview

The following summary reviews a clinical study examining oral magnesium supplementation in the context of periodic leg movements during sleep (PLMS)-related insomnia with or without restless legs syndrome (RLS).

Summary

Magnesium Therapy for Periodic Leg Movements-related Insomnia and Restless Legs Syndrome: An Open Pilot Study

Published in: SLEEP

Study Design: Open-label pilot study with pre/post polysomnographic assessment

Participants: 10 adults (6 men, 4 women; mean age 57 years) diagnosed with PLMS-related insomnia (n=4) or mild-to-moderate RLS (n=6)

Dose: 12.4 mmol magnesium (as magnesium oxide) administered orally in the evening for 4–6 weeks

Outcome Measures: PLMS index (movements per hour of total sleep time), PLMS-arousal (PLMS-A) index, sleep efficiency, total sleep time, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory (PSQI), SF-A sleep questionnaire (quality of sleep, refreshing value of sleep)

What Was Studied: This study set out to evaluate the effects of oral magnesium therapy on PLMS and sleep quality in patients with PLMS-related insomnia or mild-to-moderate RLS. Patients underwent two consecutive nights of baseline polysomnography before treatment, followed by a single night of post-treatment polysomnography after 4–6 weeks of supplementation. Leg movements were scored from bilateral anterior tibialis EMG recordings, and two indices were calculated: total PLMS per hour of sleep and PLMS associated with arousal per hour of sleep. Subjective sleep quality was assessed both before and after treatment using standardized questionnaire tools.

About the Reviewer

Name & Title: John Cutts, Director of Research at Solaray
Credentials: PhD Pharmacology & Toxicology

Bio: John Cutts, Ph.D. earned his Doctorate of Philosophy in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and his Bachelors of Science in Chemistry from BYU-Idaho. He has nearly 20 years of experience in the dietary supplement space, with a focus on scientific substantiation, regulatory affairs, and product development. His graduate research centered on the health-related properties of botanical compounds. He currently works in research and development, where he evaluates clinical evidence for dietary supplement ingredients.

References

Hornyak M, Voderholzer U, Hohagen F, Berger M, Riemann D. Magnesium therapy for periodic leg movements-related insomnia and restless legs syndrome: an open pilot study. Sleep. 1998;21(5):501–505. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9703590/

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