Evidence supporting the use of: Magnesium
For the health condition: Cramps (leg)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Magnesium is commonly used to support or treat leg cramps, particularly nocturnal leg cramps and those experienced during pregnancy. The rationale stems from magnesium’s role in neuromuscular function, where it acts as a natural calcium antagonist, helping muscles relax after contraction. Historically, magnesium supplementation has been recommended for individuals experiencing muscle cramps, especially when a deficiency is suspected. Scientifically, the evidence is mixed. Some randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses have investigated magnesium’s effectiveness for leg cramps, particularly in pregnant women and older adults. Results indicate that magnesium supplementation may provide a small benefit for pregnant women with cramps, but in the general population, evidence does not consistently show significant improvement over placebo.

A 2020 Cochrane review concluded that oral magnesium supplementation probably makes little or no difference in the frequency or severity of leg cramps in older adults. For pregnant women, the evidence is slightly more favorable, with some studies demonstrating a reduction in cramp frequency and severity, though the overall quality of evidence is low to moderate. Magnesium supplementation is generally considered safe, but its routine use for leg cramps is not strongly supported by high-quality evidence except in cases of deficiency or in select populations. Therefore, while magnesium is used and sometimes recommended based on its biological plausibility and traditional use, the current scientific support is modest.

More about magnesium
More about Cramps (leg)

Other health conditions supported by magnesium

Addictions (drugs)
Addictions (general remedies for)
Aging (prevention)
Alcoholism
Alkalosis
Alzheimer's Disease
Angina
Anorexia
Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders
Apathy
Arrhythmia
Arteriosclerosis
Arthritis
Asthma
Athletic and Exercise Aids
Attention Deficit Disorder
Autism
Autoimmune Disorders
Backache
Bipolar Mood Disorder
Birth Control (countering side effects)
Body Building
Body Odor
Boils
Broken Bones
Bronchitis
Bulimia
Calcium Deficiency
Calcium Deposits
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Canker Sores
Carbuncles
Cardiac Arrest
Cardiovascular Disease
Chest Pain
Colon (atonic)
Dysmenorrhea
Emotional Sensitivity
Endurance (lack of)
Energy (lack of)
Epilepsy
Exercise
Fatigue
Fibromyalgia Syndrome
Headache (cluster)
Headache (tension)
Hearing Loss
Heart (weakness)
Mental Illness
Migraine
Mood Swings
Muscle Tone (lack of)
Nerve Damage
Nervous Exhaustion
Nervousness
Neurosis
Numbness
Osteoporosis
Oxygen Deficiency
Pain (general remedies for)
Paralysis
Pets (supplements for)
PMS (general)
PMS Type A
PMS Type C
PMS Type D
PMS Type H
PMS Type P
Post Partum Depression
Post Partum Weakness
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Pregnancy (herbs and supplements for)
Progesterone (low)
Psoriasis
Restless Leg Syndrome
Rhinitis
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seizures
Senility
Shock
Skin (dry and/or flaky)
Skin Care (general)
Sleep (restless and disturbed)
Stress
Sugar Cravings
Surgery (healing from)
Surgery (preparation for)
Tachycardia
Tension
Testosterone (low)
Tetanus
Thinking (cloudy)
Tics
Tinnitus
TMJ
Tooth Decay
Toxemia
Triglycerides (high)
Twitching
Wasting
Wheezing
Worry
Wounds and Sores
Adrenal Fatigue
Abscesses
Allergies (respiratory)
Abdominal Pain
Acid Indigestion
Cholesterol (high)
Circulation (poor)
Constipation (adults)
Convulsions
Cramps (leg)
Cramps (menstrual)
Cramps and Spasms
Depression
Diabetes
Digestion (poor)
Dizziness
Gastritis
Headache (general)
Heart Fibrillation or Palpitations
Hypertension
Insomnia