Condition
Restless Leg Syndrome
Restless legs syndrome is a neurological condition causing an irresistible urge to move the legs, with crawling or tingling feelings that flare at rest and at night. The evidence is strongest for iron, since low iron is closely linked to the condition and the brain needs iron to make dopamine; a magnesium study found no clear difference in sleep problems. That result came from just 10 people, so it says little either way.
Sources: PMID 9703590
- Supplements studied
- 2
- Graded outcomes
- 2
- Trials
- 2
- People studied
- 47
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insomnia Signs and Symptoms Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 1 study | 37 people | ||
Studies that measured insomnia signs and symptoms | ||||||
| Restless Leg Syndrome Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 74 people | |||
Studies that measured restless leg syndrome symptoms | ||||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insomnia Signs and Symptoms No effect | NoneNo effect | 10 people | ||||
| Serum Magnesium | Improves (the measure goes up) | 6 studies | 10 people | |||
Studies that measured serum magnesium
| ||||||
| Sleep Duration | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 10 people | |||
Studies that measured sleep duration | ||||||
| Sleep Quality | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 10 people | |||
Studies that measured sleep quality | ||||||
| Restless Leg Syndrome Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 10 people | ||||
| Sleep Disturbance Signs and Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 10 people | ||||
| Sleep Efficiency | Improves (the measure goes up) | 10 people | ||||
| Sleep Latency | Improves (the measure goes down) | 10 people | ||||
Key findings
- Insomnia Signs and SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)
The Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) Management protocol
2 primary supplements · 6 supporting supplements
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Studies cited
100 studies from PubMed
- The effect of magnesium supplementation on serum concentration of lipid profile: an updated systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis on randomized controlled trials.
- Effects of magnesium on postprandial serum lipid responses in healthy human subjects
- The effect of magnesium supplementation on biochemical markers of bone metabolism or blood pressure in healthy young adult females
- Magnesium Supplementation and Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
- Effect on blood pressure of potassium, calcium, and magnesium in women with low habitual intake
- Effects of Magnesium Citrate, Magnesium Oxide, and Magnesium Sulfate Supplementation on Arterial Stiffness: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Intervention Trial
- The Effect of Magnesium Supplementation on Endothelial Function: A Randomised Cross-Over Pilot Study.
- The Acute Effect of Magnesium Supplementation on Endothelial Function: A Randomized Cross-Over Pilot Study.
- Efficacy of Magnesium Supplementation on Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes Patients: A Meta-analysis.
- Oral magnesium supplementation in insulin-requiring Type 2 diabetic patients
- The effect of lowering blood pressure by magnesium supplementation in diabetic hypertensive adults with low serum magnesium levels: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
- Oral magnesium supplementation improves insulin sensitivity and metabolic control in type 2 diabetic subjects: a randomized double-blind controlled trial
- Oral Magnesium Supplementation for Treating Glucose Metabolism Parameters in People with or at Risk of Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trials
- The effect of magnesium supplementation in increasing doses on the control of type 2 diabetes
- Effects of magnesium supplementation on improving hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension in type 2 diabetes: A pooled analysis of 24 randomized controlled trials.
- Short-term oral magnesium supplementation suppresses bone turnover in postmenopausal osteoporotic women
- A randomized controlled study of effects of dietary magnesium oxide supplementation on bone mineral content in healthy girls
- Magnesium supplementation alleviates premenstrual symptoms of fluid retention
- Pilot study of the efficacy and safety of a modified-release magnesium 250 mg tablet (Sincromag) for the treatment of premenstrual syndrome
- Oral magnesium successfully relieves premenstrual mood changes
- Magnesium improves the beta-cell function to compensate variation of insulin sensitivity: double-blind, randomized clinical trial
- Oral magnesium supplementation reduces insulin resistance in non-diabetic subjects - a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial
- Effects of oral magnesium supplementation on insulin sensitivity and blood pressure in normo-magnesemic nondiabetic overweight Korean adults
- The effect of magnesium supplementation on glucose and insulin levels of tae-kwan-do sportsmen and sedentary subjects
- Oral magnesium supplementation improves insulin sensitivity in non-diabetic subjects with insulin resistance. A double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial.
- Adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol levels in athletes and sedentary subjects at rest and exhaustion: effects of magnesium supplementation
- Effect of Magnesium Supplementation on Inflammatory Parameters: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
- Effects of magnesium supplementation on testosterone levels of athletes and sedentary subjects at rest and after exhaustion
- Effects of Magnesium Supplementation on Muscle Soreness and Performance.
- One week of magnesium supplementation lowers IL-6, muscle soreness and increases post-exercise blood glucose in response to downhill running.
- Impact of Magnesium Supplementation in Muscle Damage of Professional Cyclists Competing in a Stage Race.
- Effect of intensive magnesium supplementation on the in vitro oxidizability of LDL and VLDL in Mg-depleted type 1 diabetic patients
- Long term magnesium supplementation influences favourably the natural evolution of neuropathy in Mg-depleted type 1 diabetic patients (T1dm)
- Oral magnesium supplementation in asthmatic children: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial
- Urinary magnesium excretion in asthmatic children receiving magnesium supplementation: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study
- Effect of oral magnesium supplementation on measures of airway resistance and subjective assessment of asthma control and quality of life in men and women with mild to moderate asthma: a randomized placebo controlled trial
- Oral magnesium and vitamin C supplements in asthma: a parallel group randomized placebo-controlled trial
- The effect of magnesium supplementation on blood pressure in individuals with insulin resistance, prediabetes, or noncommunicable chronic diseases: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
- Oral magnesium supplementation reduces ambulatory blood pressure in patients with mild hypertension
- Effects of magnesium supplementation in hypertensive patients: assessment by office, home, and ambulatory blood pressures
- Long-term magnesium supplementation improves glucocorticoid metabolism: A post-hoc analysis of an intervention trial.
- On the significance of magnesium in extreme physical stress
- Effect of magnesium supplementation on strength training in humans
- Magnesium for skeletal muscle cramps
- Does oral magnesium substitution relieve pregnancy-induced leg cramps
- The effect of magnesium infusion on rest cramps: randomized controlled trial.
- Randomised, cross-over, placebo controlled trial of magnesium citrate in the treatment of chronic persistent leg cramps.
- Magnesium for the treatment of nocturnal leg cramps: a crossover randomized trial.
- A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study assessing the efficacy of magnesium oxide monohydrate in the treatment of nocturnal leg cramps
- Effect of oral magnesium supplementation for relieving leg cramps during pregnancy: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Magnesium supplementation in pregnancy.
- [Magnesium substitution in pregnancy. A prospective, randomized double-blind study].
- BRAzil magnesium (BRAMAG) trial: a double-masked randomized clinical trial of oral magnesium supplementation in pregnancy
- Oral Magnesium Supplementation for the Prevention of Preeclampsia: a Meta-analysis or Randomized Controlled Trials.
- Antenatal magnesium sulphate and adverse neonatal outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Magnesium supplementation improves indicators of low magnesium status and inflammatory stress in adults older than 51 years with poor quality sleep
- Oral Mg(2+) supplementation reverses age-related neuroendocrine and sleep EEG changes in humans
- Phase 2 study examining magnesium-dependent tinnitus
- Is magnesium citrate treatment effective on pain, clinical parameters and functional status in patients with fibromyalgia?
- Short-Term Magnesium Therapy Alleviates Moderate Stress in Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial.
- Response of Vitamin D after Magnesium Intervention in a Postmenopausal Population from the Province of Granada, Spain.
- Efficacy and safety of oral magnesium supplementation in the treatment of depression in the elderly with type 2 diabetes: a randomized, equivalent trial
- The effects of magnesium supplementation on serum level of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and depression status in patients with depression.
- Randomized study of the effects of vitamin D and/or magnesium supplementation on mood, serum levels of BDNF, inflammation, and SIRT1 in obese women with mild to moderate depressive symptoms
- The effect of magnesium supplementation on primary insomnia in elderly: A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial
- Magnesium therapy for periodic leg movements-related insomnia and restless legs syndrome: an open pilot study.
- Oral magnesium supplementation for insomnia in older adults: a Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis
- Effect of magnesium and vitamin B6 supplementation on mental health and quality of life in stressed healthy adults: Post-hoc analysis of a randomised controlled trial.
- Senna Versus Magnesium Oxide for the Treatment of Chronic Constipation: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.
- Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 and Magnesium Oxide in Children with Functional Chronic Constipation: A Double-Blind and Randomized Clinical Trial.
- A Randomized Double-blind Placebo-controlled Trial on the Effect of Magnesium Oxide in Patients With Chronic Constipation.
- MAGraine: Magnesium compared to conventional therapy for treatment of migraines.
- The effects of magnesium prophylaxis in migraine without aura
- Comparative study of magnesium, sodium valproate, and concurrent magnesium-sodium valproate therapy in the prevention of migraine headaches: a randomized controlled double-blind trial.
- Magnesium supplementation and preeclampsia in low-income pregnant women - a randomized double-blind clinical trial.
- Does Magnesium Affect Sex Hormones and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Patients with PCOS? Findings from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
- Clinical and Metabolic Responses to Magnesium Supplementation in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
- Metabolic and hormonal effects of melatonin and/or magnesium supplementation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
- Effects of Melatonin and/or Magnesium Supplementation on Biomarkers of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
- The effects of magnesium supplementation on abnormal uterine bleeding, alopecia, quality of life, and acne in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized clinical trial.
- L-Threonic Acid Magnesium Salt Supplementation in ADHD: An Open-Label Pilot Study.
- Magnesium citrate supplementation decreased blood pressure and HbA1c in normomagnesemic subjects with metabolic syndrome: a 12-week, placebo-controlled, double-blinded pilot trial.
- The effect of long-term magnesium intake on inflammatory markers in patients with metabolic syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Magnesium supplementation and iron status among female students: The intervention study.
- Magnesium Sulfate Improves Some Risk Factors for Atherosclerosis in Patients Suffering from One or Two Coronary Artery Diseases: A Double-blind Clinical Trial Study
- Effect of oral magnesium supplement on cardiometabolic markers in people with prediabetes: a double blind randomized controlled clinical trial.
- Magnesium supplementation and insulin resistance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
- The effect of preoperative oral magnesium oxide on the severity of postoperative pain among women undergoing hysterectomy.
- Effects of Oral Magnesium Supplementation on Vascular Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
- Effect of short-term magnesium supplementation on anxiety, depression and sleep quality in patients after open-heart surgery.
- Magnesium for Prevention of New-onset Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation Following Cardiac Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
- Extract of valerian root (Valeriana officinalis L.) vs. placebo in treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: a randomized double-blind study
- Effect of valepotriates (valerian extract) in generalized anxiety disorder: a randomized placebo-controlled pilot study
- Does valerian improve sleepiness and symptom severity in people with restless legs syndrome
- Valerian for sleep: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Aqueous extract of valerian reduces latency to fall asleep in man
- Effectiveness of Valerian on insomnia: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials
- Effect of valerian on sleep quality in postmenopausal women: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial
- The use of Valeriana officinalis (Valerian) in improving sleep in patients who are undergoing treatment for cancer: a phase III randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study (NCCTG Trial, N01C5)
- The effects of valerian root on hot flashes in menopausal women