Magnesium Research
49 peer-reviewed studies · Evidence score: 8.5/10
Association Between Levels of Magnesium and Diabetic Retinopathy in Diabetic Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Kubbara EA et al. • Nutrients (2026)
This systematic review and meta-analysis conclude that magnesium levels are significantly lower in patients with diabetic retinopathy than in diabetic controls without retinopathy.
- The random-effects model indicated significantly lower magnesium levels in patients with diabetic retinopathy compared to diabetic controls [SMD = -1.19, 95% CI (-1.68; -0.70); p < 0.0001; I2 = 95%].
- Meta-regression analysis revealed that year of publication (coefficient = 0.061; p = 0.009) and non-Asian studies (coefficient = 2.376; p = 0.001) were positively associated with the pooled effect size, while the NOS quality score was inversely associated (coefficient = -0.709; p = 0.035).
- The magnesium levels were significantly lower in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy compared with those with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy using a fixed effect model [SMD = -1.41, (95% CI: -1.83; -1.00); p < 0.01; I2 = 32%; Cochran's Q statistic (Q = 1.46, p < 0.23)].
Magnesium Supplementation and Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Rosanoff A et al. • Nutrients (2024)
Magnesium reduced systolic BP by 2.81 mmHg and diastolic by 2.05 mmHg compared to placebo.
- 38 RCTs with 2709 participants analyzed
- Hypertensive individuals showed -7.68 mmHg reduction
- Greater effects in those with hypomagnesemia
Early magnesium discontinuation postpartum and eclampsia risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Quist-Nelson J et al. • Pregnancy hypertension (2024)
Early magnesium discontinuation postpartum, usually ≤6 h or none at all, did not significantly increase the rate of postpartum eclampsia, however this study is likely underpowered to demonstrate a difference.
- Eclampsia rates were not different between the two groups (5/1088 (0.5 %) after early discontinuation, versus 2/1095 (0.2 %) in the 24-hour group; RR 2.25, 95 % CI 0.5-9.9, I2 = 0 %, 8 studies, 2183 participants).
- The early discontinuation group had a significant decrease in time to ambulation (-9.1 h, 95 % CI -14.7 - (-3.6), I2 = 98 %, 3 studies, 1509 participants) and breastfeeding (-8.4 h, 95 % CI -12.0 - (-4.8), I2 = 98 %, 2 studies, 1397 participants).
- Early magnesium discontinuation postpartum, usually ≤6 h or none at all, did not significantly increase the rate of postpartum eclampsia, however this study is likely underpowered to demonstrate a difference.
Efficacy and safety of 12-hour versus 24-hour magnesium sulfate in management of patients with pre-eclampsia and eclampsia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Shaheen RS et al. • BMC women's health (2024)
Our study showed no statistically significant difference in effectiveness and toxicity risk between the 12-h and 24-h regimens.
- Our study showed no statistically significant difference in effectiveness and toxicity risk between the 12-h and 24-h regimens.
- Published in BMC women's health (2024)
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Magnesium prophylaxis of new-onset atrial fibrillation: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Curran J et al. • PloS one (2023)
Use of magnesium did not reduce the incidence of NOAF, however these studies represent diverse groups and are hindered by significant bias.
- Use of magnesium did not reduce the incidence of NOAF, however these studies represent diverse groups and are hindered by significant bias.
- Further studies are necessary to determine if there is benefit to magnesium prophylaxis for NOAF in non-cardiac surgery patients.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
The effect of food, vitamin, or mineral supplements on chronic constipation in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
van der Schoot A et al. • Neurogastroenterology and motility (2023)
Magnesium oxide supplements are effective at improving cardinal symptoms of chronic constipation.
- Overall, 61% responded to senna and 28% to control; however, this did not reach statistical significance (RR 2.78, [0.93, 8.27]; p = 0.07).
- Overall, 68% responded to magnesium oxide and 19% to control (RR 3.32 [1.59, 6.92]; p = 0.001).
- Magnesium oxide supplements are effective at improving cardinal symptoms of chronic constipation.
Examining the Effects of Supplemental Magnesium on Self-Reported Anxiety and Sleep Quality: A Systematic Review
Schwalfenberg GK et al. • Cureus (2024)
Five out of eight sleep studies and five out of seven anxiety studies reported improvements.
- 63% of sleep studies showed improvements
- 71% of anxiety studies showed improvements
- Benefits in various magnesium formulations
Magnesium supplementation in pregnancy
Makrides M et al. • The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2014)
There is not enough high-quality evidence to show that dietary magnesium supplementation during pregnancy is beneficial.
- Women receiving magnesium were significantly less likely to require hospitalisation during pregnancy (RR 0.65, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.86; three trials, 1158 women).Of the 10 trials included in the review, only two were judged to be of high quality overall.
- There is not enough high-quality evidence to show that dietary magnesium supplementation during pregnancy is beneficial.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
A meta-analysis of effects of vitamin E supplementation alone and in combination with omega-3 or magnesium on polycystic ovary syndrome
Heidari H et al. • Scientific reports (2022)
This meta-analysis examined the effects of Magnesium.
- No significant effect was found on HDL-c, glycemic indices, hormonal profile, anthropometric measurements, and other biomarkers of inflammation or oxidative stress.
- This meta-analysis highlights the potential anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties of vitamin E supplementation alone or in combination with omega-3 or magnesium on PCOS patients.© 2022.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Utility of magnesium sulfate in the treatment of rapid atrial fibrillation in the emergency department: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Hoffer M et al. • European journal of emergency medicine : official journal of the European Society for Emergency Medicine (2022)
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- There were 815 patients with Afib/RVR; 487 patients (60%) received magnesium treatment, whereas 328 (40%) patients received control treatment.
- Meta-regressions demonstrated that higher maintenance dose (corr. coeff, 0.17; P = 0.01) was positively correlated with HR reductions, respectively.
- We observed that magnesium infusion can be an effective rate control treatment for patients who presented to the ED with Afib/RVR.
Intravenous magnesium in the management of rapid atrial fibrillation: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Ramesh T et al. • Journal of cardiology (2021)
IV Mg2+ administered in conjunction with standard-of-care is effective for rate control and modestly effective for restoration of sinus rhythm in rapid AF without clinically significant adverse effects.
- Our pooled analysis showed that IV Mg2+ given in addition to standard-of-care was superior in achieving rate control (63% vs 40%; OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.80-3.45) and rhythm conversion to sinus (21% vs. 14%, OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.08-2.84) compared to standard-of-care alone.
- Flushing was more frequently observed in patients receiving IV Mg2+ compared to placebo (9% vs. 0.4%, OR 19.79, 95% CI 4.30-91.21).
- Subgroup analysis showed the superiority of a lower dose of IV Mg2+, which we designated as 5 g or lower (24% vs 13%, OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.22-3.61) compared to the higher dose (>5 g) (16% vs 13%, OR 1.23, 95% CI 0.65-2.32) in rhythm control when compared to placebo.
Intravenous Magnesium Sulfate in Acute Stroke
Avgerinos KI et al. • Stroke (2019)
The finding of favorable neurological outcome, selectively in ischemic stroke patients, should be viewed with extreme caution given the limited number of patients included in this subgroup meta-analysis.
- Compared with placebo, treatment did not improve functional outcome defined as Barthel Index >60 (odds ratio =1.05; 95% CI, 0.92-1.19) and >95 (odds ratio =0.95; 95% CI, 0.76-1.20), 90 days poststroke.
- It also did not improve global outcome measured with modified Rankin Scale (standardized mean difference =-0.01; 95% CI, -0.12 to 0.10), 90 days poststroke.
- In an additional subgroup meta-analysis that exclusively included ischemic stroke patients, intravenous MgSO4 resulted in lower modified Rankin Scale score (improved global outcome; weighted mean difference =-0.96; 95% CI, -1.34 to -0.58; I2=0%], 90 days poststroke.
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
Veronese N et al. • Nutrients (2021)
Moreover, our work indicates that Mg supplementation may improve insulin-sensitivity parameters in those at high risk of diabetes.
- Data were reported as standardized mean differences (SMDs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using follow-up data of glucose and insulin-sensitivity parameters.
- In people at high risk of diabetes, Mg supplementation significantly improved plasma glucose per se, and after a 2 h oral glucose tolerance test.
- Furthermore, Mg supplementation demonstrated an improvement in insulin sensitivity markers.
Magnesium and stress
Pickering G et al. • Nutrients (2020)
Magnesium status is associated with subjective anxiety and stress, and supplementation may help manage stress.
- Low magnesium associated with anxiety
- Supplementation reduces stress markers
- Benefits most pronounced in deficient individuals
Serum magnesium levels and lung cancer risk: a meta-analysis
Song X et al. • World journal of surgical oncology (2018)
Our study suggested that serum magnesium levels had no significant association on lung cancer risk.
- Serum magnesium levels were not significantly lower in patients with lung cancer [summary SMD = 0.193, 95%CI = - 1.504 to 1.890] when compared to health controls, with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 99.6%, P < 0.001) found.
- Negative associations were found among Asian populations [summary SMD = 0.229, 95%CI = - 1.637 to 2.094] and European populations [summary SMD = - 0.168, 95%CI = - 0.482 to 0.147].
- Our study suggested that serum magnesium levels had no significant association on lung cancer risk.
Oral magnesium supplementation for insomnia in older adults: a Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis
Mah J et al. • BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2021)
Sleep onset latency was 17.36 minutes less after magnesium supplementation.
- Significant reduction in sleep onset latency
- 16-minute increase in total sleep time
- Benefits in older adults with insomnia
The association between micronutrient levels and diabetic foot ulcer: A systematic review with meta-analysis
Kurian SJ et al. • Frontiers in endocrinology (2023)
This review provides evidence that micronutrient levels significantly differ in DFU patients, suggesting an association between micronutrient status and risk of DFU.
- DFU, compared to healthy controls (HC) had significantly lower vitamin D (MD: -10.82 14 ng/ml, 95% CI: -20.47, -1.16), magnesium (MD: -0.45 mg/dL, 95% CI: -0.78, -0.12) and selenium (MD: -0.33 µmol/L, 95% CI: -0.34, -0.32) levels.
- DFU, compared to DM patients without DFU, had significantly lower vitamin D (MD: -5.41 ng/ml, 95% CI: -8.06, -2.76), and magnesium (MD: -0.20 mg/dL, 95% CI: -0.25, -0.15) levels.
- The overall analysis showed lower levels of vitamin D [15.55ng/ml (95% CI:13.44, 17.65)], vitamin C [4.99µmol/L (95% CI:3.16, 6.83)], magnesium [1.53mg/dL (95% CI:1.28, 1.78)] and selenium [0.54µmol/L (95% CI:0.45, 0.64)].
Magnesium and Potassium Supplementation for Systolic Blood Pressure Reduction in the General Normotensive Population: A Systematic Review and Subgroup Meta-Analysis for Optimal Dosage and Treatment Length
Behers BJ et al. • Nutrients (2024)
Both supplements demonstrated greater reductions in SBP for the general population at lower dosages and longer treatment durations.
- Both supplements demonstrated greater reductions in SBP for the general population at lower dosages and longer treatment durations.
- Future studies are needed to validate these findings and provide tailored recommendations.
- These studies could investigate varying dosages over long-term follow-up to provide robust data on optimal dosages and treatment durations, as our findings were limited due to reliance on previously published trials.
Magnesium for skeletal muscle cramps
Garrison SR et al. • The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2020)
It is unlikely that magnesium supplementation provides clinically meaningful cramp prophylaxis to older adults experiencing skeletal muscle cramps.
- The percentage of individuals experiencing a 25% or better reduction in cramp rate from baseline was also no different (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.29; 3 studies, 177 participants; high-certainty evidence).
- Similarly, no statistically significant difference was found at four weeks in measures of cramp intensity or cramp duration.
- The single study comparing magnesium to no treatment failed to find statistically significant benefit on a three-point ordinal scale of overall treatment efficacy.
Magnesium and Cognitive Health in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Chen F et al. • Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) (2024)
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- Future cohort studies should evaluate various Mg biomarkers and collect repeated measurements of Mg intake over time, considering different sources (diet or supplements) and factors affecting absorption (for example, calcium-to-Mg intake ratio).
- This systematic review was preregistered in PROSPERO (CRD42023423663).Copyright © 2024 The Authors.
- Published by Elsevier Inc.