The effect of oral magnesium substitution on pregnancy-induced leg cramps

Dahle, Lars O.; Berg, Göran; Hammar, Mats; Hurtig, Mats; Larsson, Lasse

« Previous Next »American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 173, Issue 1 , Pages 175-180, July 1995

The effect of oral magnesium substitution on pregnancy-induced leg cramps☆

Lars O. Dahle, MD
- Reprint requests: Lars Olav Dahle, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Linköping University Hospital, S-581 85 Linköping, Sweden.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden
Göran Berg, MD, PhD
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden
Mats Hammar, MD, PhD
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden
Mats Hurtig, MD
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jönköping Central Hospital Jönköping, Sweden
Lasse Larsson, MD, PhD
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden

Received 2 August 1994; received in revised form 2 November 1994; accepted 7 November 1994.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine whether women with pregnancy-related leg cramps would benefit from oral magnesium supplementation.

STUDY DESIGN: Seventy-three women with pregnancy-related leg cramps were interviewed about their symptoms in a prospective, double-blind, randomized trial. Initial serum magnesium levels and diurnal magnesium excretion was determined in 50% of the patients. Oral magnesium or placebo was given for 3 weeks, after which new interviews and laboratory analyses were performed.

RESULTS: Serum magnesium levels in these patients were at or below the lower reference limit, as is also often the case in healthy pregnant patients. Oral magnesium substitution decreased leg cramp distress (p < 0.05 compared with the placebo group, p < 0.001 compared with initial complaints), but did not significantly increase serum magnesium levels, excess magnesium being excreted as measured by an increase in urinary magnesium levels (p < 0.002).

CONCLUSION: Oral magnesium supplementation seems to be a valuable therapeutic tool in the treatment of pregnancy-related leg cramps.

Keywords: Human pregnancy, magnesium deficiency, leg cramps, magnesium substitution therapy

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