Table 6

Trials testing magnesium

Reference

Study Design

Sample Population

Intervention

Control

Length of Treatment

Outcomes

Direction of Evidence

Reported Adverse Events

Carroll (2000) [75]

Randomized; Double-blind; Parallel Group

80 healthy males

Berocca: oral multivitamin¹

Placebo

28 days

Multivitamin treatment significantly reduced anxiety as measured by GHQ-28, HADS and PSS.

+

Not reported

De Souza (2000) [76]

Randomized; Double-blind; Crossover (4)

44 women with adverse premenstrual symptoms but otherwise in good health

(1) 200 mg Mg, (2) 50 mg vitamin B₆, (3) 200 mg Mg + 50 mg vitamin B₆ per day

Placebo

One menstrual cycle

200 mg/day Mg + 50 mg/day vitamin B₆ significantly reduced anxiety-related premenstrual symptoms

+

Participants were not specifically asked, but none were reported spontaneously

Hanus (2004) [77]

Randomized;

Double-blind;

Parallel Group

264 patients with generalized anxiety (DSM-III-R) of mild-to-moderate intensity²

Sympathyl: extracts of crataegus oxyacantha and eschscholtzia californica plus magnesium

Placebo

3 months

Significant clinical improvement in anxiety³ in favour of the combination treatment

+

No serious AEs related to treatment⁴

GHQ-28: General Health Questionnaire; HADS: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; PSS: Perceived Stress Scale; DMS-II-R: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, third edition revised; HAMA: Hamilton Anxiety Scale; HAMA-SOM: Hamilton Anxiety Scale, subscore somatic anxiety; HAMA-T: Hamilton Anxiety Scale, total score (HAMA-T

1. Multivitamin containing vitamin B1 (15 mg), B2 (15 mg), niacin (50 mg), pantothenic acid (23 mg), B6 (10 mg), biotin (150 mcg), folic acid (400 mcg), B12 (10 mcg), C (500 mg), calcium (100 mg), magnesium (100 mg), zinc (10 mg).

2. Total HAMA score between 16 and 28.

3. Measured by HAMA-T and HAMA-SOM and subjective patient-rated anxiety.

Headache, muscular stiffness, insomnia, drowsiness, indifference, anxiety, palpitations, nausea (4), gastralgia, diarrhea, gastric heaviness, dysuria, colic renal pain, morning sluggishness (3), asthenia.

Lakhan and Vieira Nutrition Journal 2010 9:42   doi:10.1186/1475-2891-9-42