Evidence supporting the use of: Magnesium
For the health condition: Alcoholism

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Magnesium supplementation for individuals with alcoholism is scientifically justified due to the well-documented prevalence of magnesium deficiency in people with chronic alcohol use. Alcohol interferes with the absorption of magnesium in the intestines, increases renal excretion, and often coincides with poor dietary intake—all of which lead to hypomagnesemia. Symptoms of magnesium deficiency include muscle cramps, seizures, cardiovascular issues, and neuropsychiatric disturbances, some of which overlap with alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Several clinical studies and reviews (e.g., Addolorato et al., 1996; Rylander, 1996; Maguire et al., 2018) have shown that magnesium levels are frequently low in alcohol-dependent individuals. Correction of this deficiency through supplementation has been associated with improvement in withdrawal symptoms, reduction in the risk of cardiac complications, and better overall outcomes in recovery. However, while most experts agree that magnesium replacement is essential to correct deficiency, the evidence for magnesium supplementation as a treatment for alcoholism per se (i.e., to reduce cravings or prevent relapse) is limited. Most benefits are related to management of withdrawal and prevention of complications rather than direct anti-alcohol effects.

In summary, magnesium supplementation is scientifically supported for addressing the common electrolyte imbalance in alcoholism and for improving related clinical outcomes, but it is not a primary treatment for alcohol dependence itself.

More about magnesium
More about Alcoholism

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