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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
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
November 7,
1994
Received in revised form:
November 2,
1994
Received:
August 2,
1994
Footnotes
☆Supported by a Linköping University Faculty Grant and by ACO & Pharmacia Läkemedel.
Identification
Copyright
© 1995 Published by Elsevier Inc.
