Examining the Effects of Supplemental Magnesium on Self-Reported Anxiety and Sleep Quality: A Systematic Review

Summary & key facts

Researchers reviewed clinical trials that tested magnesium supplements for anxiety and sleep problems. They found several small studies that showed benefits, but the studies used different doses and mixes, often had few people, and sometimes included other ingredients, so the evidence is promising but not conclusive.

Key facts:

• The authors searched the medical literature and found 860 articles, of which 15 met their rules for inclusion.
• Of the included studies, eight measured sleep outcomes and seven measured anxiety outcomes, with one study looking at both.
• Five of eight sleep studies reported improvements in sleep, two found no improvement, and one had mixed results.
• Five of seven studies that measured anxiety reported improvements in self-reported anxiety symptoms.
• Sleep quality in many studies was measured with a common questionnaire called the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and anxiety was often measured with self-report scales such as the Hamilton Anxiety Scale.
• The studies used many different magnesium doses, types, and treatment lengths, and some trials included other potentially active ingredients, which makes their results hard to compare.
• The trials were generally small and varied a lot, so the authors say larger, carefully controlled studies are needed to be sure which forms and doses of magnesium, if any, help reliably.
• The paper notes that magnesium supplements might be helpful for mild anxiety and insomnia, especially in people who have low magnesium to begin with, but this conclusion is cautious rather than certain.

Abstract

Self-treatment with vitamin, mineral, and herbal supplements has become increasingly common among patients for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Magnesium, in particular, is popular on social media for the treatment of anxiety and insomnia. Meanwhile, preclinical studies support associations between magnesium status, sleep quality, and symptoms of anxiety. The extent to which these claims are evidence-based is unclear. Therefore, a systematic review was performed to provide an updated examination of the clinical evidence on the use of magnesium for the treatment of the above conditions given the popularity of such supplements among patients and the public at large. A thorough search of the PubMed database was performed and results were systematically reviewed using PRISMA guidelines. The search was limited to anxiety disorders and sleep disorders and included interventional trials only. Exclusion criteria included insufficient (3 other potentially active compounds present in the formulation, and articles in languages other than English. This query returned 860 articles of which 15 met full inclusion criteria. Eight measured sleep-related outcomes, seven measured anxiety-related outcomes, and one examined both. Sleep quality was measured most frequently using the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Anxiety measures included self-reported measures such as the Hamilton Anxiety Scale. The majority of included studies demonstrated improvement in at least one sleep- or anxiety-related parameter. Five out of eight sleep-related studies reported improvements in sleep parameters, while two studies reported no improvements, and one reported mixed results. Five out of seven studies measuring anxiety-related outcomes reported improvements in self-reported anxiety. Firm conclusions were limited by the heterogeneity of the data and the small number of participants involved in most of the studies. The dosages, formulations, and durations of the magnesium interventions used also differed across studies. Furthermore, some studies included additional, potentially active ingredients, further complicating interpretations. Given the generally positive results across studies, the preponderance of preclinical evidence, and minimal side effects, however, supplemental magnesium is likely useful in the treatment of mild anxiety and insomnia, particularly in those with low magnesium status at baseline. Notably, both negative anxiety trials featured populations with underlying endocrine factors likely contributing to their symptoms (patients with premenstrual symptoms and post-partum women). Nonetheless, larger, randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm efficacy and to establish the most effective forms and dosages of magnesium for the treatment of insomnia and anxiety disorders.

Topics

Magnesium in Health and Disease Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments Restless Legs Syndrome Research

Categories

Epidemiology Health Sciences Medicine

Tags

Anxiety Clinical psychology Insomnia Internal medicine Law Medicine MEDLINE Political science Psychiatry Randomized controlled trial Social anxiety Systematic review

Substances

Other

Conditions & symptoms

Anxiety Anxiety or worry Poor sleep