Short-Term Magnesium Therapy Alleviates Moderate Stress in Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial

Abstract

Patients suffering from fibromyalgia often report stress and pain, with both often refractory to usual drug treatment. Magnesium supplementation seems to improve fibromyalgia symptoms, but the level of evidence is still poor. This study is a randomized, controlled, double-blind trial in fibromyalgia patients that compared once a day oral magnesium 100 mg (Chronomag®, magnesium chloride technology formula) to placebo, for 1 month. The primary endpoint was the level of stress on the DASS-42 scale, and secondary endpoints were pain, sleep, quality of life, fatigue, catastrophism, social vulnerability, and magnesium blood concentrations. After 1 month of treatment, the DASS-42 score decreased in the magnesium and placebo groups but not significantly (21.8 ± 9.6 vs. 21.6 ± 10.8, respectively, p = 0.930). Magnesium supplementation significantly reduced the mild/moderate stress subgroup (DASS-42 stress score: 22.1 ± 2.8 to 12.3 ± 7.0 in magnesium vs. 21.9 ± 11.9 to 22.9 ± 11.9 in placebo, p = 0.003). Pain severity diminished significantly (p = 0.029) with magnesium while the other parameters were not significantly different between both groups. These findings show, for the first time, that magnesium improves mild/moderate stress and reduces the pain experience in fibromyalgia patients. This suggests that daily magnesium could be a useful treatment to improve the burden of disease of fibromyalgia patients and calls for a larger clinical trial.

Assessing brain function in stressed healthy individuals following the use of a combination of green tea, Rhodiola, magnesium, and B vitamins: an fMRI study

“…Mg has an important role in preventing central sensitization and attenuation of the pain hypersensitivity through its voltage-gated action at NMDA receptors and has been investigated for its ability to reduce acute or chronic pain in various clinical conditions ( 68 ). A recent study also reported a significant ( p = 0.003) reduction in mild/moderate stress (DASS-42 stress score) and the intensity of pain ( p = 0.029) following supplementation with oral Mg in fibromyalgia individuals ( 69 ). The important effects of the botanical extracts contained in Mg-Teadiola on brain functions have been highlighted in the previous study ( 20 ).…”

Nutrition and Chronobiology as Key Components of Multidisciplinary Therapeutic Interventions for Fibromyalgia and Associated Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Narrative and Critical Review

“…A recent study concluded that Mg intake was inversely correlated with C -reactive Protein (CRP) in the FM group [ 118 ]. Furthermore, daily supplementation of oral Mg chloride improved mild/moderate stress and reduced pain in FM patients [ 119 ]. However, larger clinical trials are required.…”

Are OMERACT recommendations followed in clinical trials on fibromyalgia? A systematic review of patient-reported outcomes and their measures

“…Followed by the generic Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), which was assessed in 44.8% of the studies. Only ten studies did apply neither the FIQ nor the SF-36 [ 32 , 69 , 73 , 82 , 83 , 98 , 99 , 105 , 109 , 128 ], although Pazzi et al and Macian et al [ 83 , 105 ] did use the 12-item Short Form of the SF-36 (i.e. SF-12).…”