Fibromyalgia - Treatment

Magnesium - updated: 04 September 2009

The relationship between serum trace element levels and clinical parameters in patients with fibromyalgia

Rheumatol Int. 2008 Sep;28(11):1117-21.

Sendur OF, Tastaban E, Turan Y, Ulman C.

We examined the association between serum trace elements and clinical findings such as number of sensitive tender points, severity of fatigue and functional status in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). Thirty-two patients diagnosed as having FM according to the ACR 1990 criteria and 32 normal healthy controls (NHC) were included in this study. The demographic data, disease duration, number of tender points and accompanying symptoms (fatigue, sleep disorders, headache, paresthesia, irritable bowel syndrome, sicca symptoms, Raynaud's phenomena) of the patients were noted. Visual analog scale (10 cm) was implemented to estimate daily severity of pain and fatigue. Fibromyalgia impact questionnaire was used for functional assessment. Serum selenium (microg/dL) and serum zinc (microg/dL) levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrometer. Serum magnesium (mmol/L) level was measured by the original kits of Abbott Aeroset auto-analyzer. The mean age of patients in FM group and NHC were calculated as 42.9 (SD = 7.7) years and 41.3 (SD = 9.7) years, respectively. Serum levels of zinc (P = 0.001) and magnesium (P = 0.002) were significantly decreased by FM groups, whereas there was no considerable difference with selenium levels of both groups (P > 0.05). Association between serum zinc level and number of tender points (P = 0.008) and that between fatigue and magnesium level (P = 0.003) was found as meaningful. According to the results of this study, it was asserted that serum magnesium and zinc levels may play an important role in the pathophysiology of FM

Publication Types:

• Study

Treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome with Super Malic: a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, crossover pilot study

J Rheumatol. 1995 May;22(5):953-8

Russell IJ, Michalek JE, Flechas JD, Abraham GE.

OBJECTIVE. To study the efficacy and safety of Super Malic, a proprietary tablet containing malic acid (200 mg) and magnesium (50 mg), in treatment of primary fibromyalgia syndrome (FM). METHODS. Twenty-four sequential patients with primary FM were randomized to a fixed dose (3 tablets bid), placebo controlled, 4-week/course, pilot trial followed by a 6-month, open label, dose escalation (up to 6 tablets bid) trial. A 2-week, medication free, washout period was required before receiving treatment, between blinded courses, and again before starting open label treatment. The 3 primary outcome variables were measures of pain and tenderness but functional and psychological measures were also assessed. RESULTS. No clear treatment effect attributable to Super Malic was seen in the blinded, fixed low dose trial. With dose escalation and a longer duration of treatment in the open label trial, significant reductions in the severity of all 3 primary pain/tenderness measures were obtained without limiting risks. CONCLUSIONS. These data suggest that Super Malic is safe and may be beneficial in the treatment of patients with FM. Future placebo-controlled studies should utilize up to 6 tablets of Super Malic bid and continue therapy for at least 2 months.

Publication Types:

• randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, crossover pilot study

Hair calcium and magnesium levels in patients with fibromyalgia: a case center study

J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1999 Nov-Dec;22(9):586-93

Ng SY.

BACKGROUND: Fibromyalgia is not an uncommon condition. Because its cause has yet to be identified. treatment of the condition has been empirical; frequently, outcomes are unsatisfactory. Some patients with fibromyalgia were observed to have high hair calcium and magnesium levels compared with healthy subjects. Because of this and because supplementing calcium with magnesium to fibromyalgia subjects reduced the number of tender points detected by digital palpation, it is worth investigating if patients with fibromyalgia have significantly higher hair calcium and magnesium levels than their healthy counterparts. OBJECTIVES: To determine the degree of difference between the hair calcium and magnesium levels in patients with fibromyalgia and in healthy subjects. METHODS: The study was retrospective and of paired design. Twelve patients who had hair analysis performed and met the criteria of fibromyalgia defined by American College of Rheumatology (1990) were selected consecutively from clinical files. These patients were then matched by age and sex to 12 healthy subjects selected consecutively from the same patient files who had hair analysis performed for checkup purposes. Nonparametric Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to determine if the hair calcium and magnesium levels in patients with fibromyalgia were significantly higher than that of the control subjects. RESULTS: Wilcoxon rank sum tests showed that patients with fibromyalgia had significantly higher calcium and magnesium levels than the control subjects at alpha = .025 and .05, respectively. CONCLUSION: In the presence of high hair calcium and magnesium levels, calcium and magnesium supplements may be indicated as an adjunctive treatment of fibromyalgia.

Publication Types:

• a case center study

Publication Types:

• Review