New Studies Highlight Benefits of Magnesium Bisglycinate Chelate

CLEARFIELD, UtahTwo recent studies using magnesium bisglycinate chelate, manufactured by Albion, had positive outcomes, one related to pregnancy-induced leg cramps and the other around functional variables in children with cystic fibrosis.

The first trial, conducted at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, sought to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of oral magnesium in pregnant women with leg cramps. The double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, four-week trial included 80 healthy pregnant women who had leg cramps at least twice per week. Women received 300 mg/d of magnesium bisglycinate chelate (n=41) or placebo (n=39). Mean numbers of leg cramps before treatment were 5.4 and 4.2 times per week in the treatment and placebo groups, respectively, while mean pain score of leg cramps before treatment were 63.7 and 68.5 in the treatment and placebo groups, respectively. Intervention with magnesium bisglycinate chelate reduced leg cramp frequency by 50 percent in 86 percent of the treated group; active treatment also yielded a 50 percent reduction in leg cramp intensity in 69.8 percent of the women.

The second trial, conducted at two Federal Universities in Brazil, was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2012;96(1):50-56. DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.112.034207). The researchers hypothesized patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) may have low body magnesium storage, and that supplementation with magnesium could improve respiratory muscle strength. For the crossover study, a total of 44 patients currently undergoing conventional treatment for CF were randomly assigned to receive 300 mg/d oral magnesium bisglycinate chelate or a placebo for eight weeks, with a washout period of four weeks between trials. After the intervention period, maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) showed an 11 percent predicted increase, while maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) also showed an 11.9 percent predicted increase. The differences between intervention and placebo periods were significant. The researchers concluded oral magnesium bisglycinate chelate supplementation could significantly improve the functional status of respiratory musculature in children and adolescents with CF and better clinical results.