Magnesium citrate may be the most effective type if you want to try a supplement. If you're magnesium deficient, there may be other benefits from increasing your intake of this nutrient. And other remedies are available for leg cramping that may help.
Although further research is needed on magnesium and muscle cramps, taking 300 mg of magnesium daily may help decrease symptoms.
Recommend purpose: Magnesium Citrate is a more well-rounded form of magnesium for general wellbeing. It is helpful for calming the nervous system and muscle cramps.
Magnesium citrate is a more common choice if you want to maintain magnesium levels for general whole-body health. On the other hand, magnesium glycinate has less bioavailability but can have a calming effect.
If you're trying to combat leg cramps or even just relax before bed, one of my favorite forms is magnesium glycinate. It's highly absorbed and well tolerated without producing a laxative effect. Recently, one customer told me it's been so effective at reducing her leg cramps, magnesium glycinate has changed her life.
Since magnesium plays a role in neuromuscular transmission and muscle contraction, it has been hypothesised that magnesium deficiency may predispose to muscle cramps. Thus magnesium supplements are often recommended to prevent cramps.
Potassium. Potassium helps maintain normal cell function in the body, particularly in the nerves and muscles. It is relatively common for people to have a potassium deficiency. However, if a person has a severe deficiency , they may experience symptoms such as leg cramps.
A 2015 study of the medical uses of magnesium recommends taking magnesium citrate because it's more easily absorbed by the body.
The benefits of magnesium glycinate
promote bone health. manage blood sugar in people with diabetes and may lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. maintain normal heart rhythms. reduce symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
While there are many forms of magnesium available, we often prefer to use magnesium citrate and/or magnesium glycinate. Magnesium citrate is most helpful for people suffering from constipation, while the glycinate form is more useful for conditions like anxiety, insomnia, chronic stress, and inflammatory conditions.
Meaning This trial suggests that magnesium oxide is not significantly better than placebo for alleviating nocturnal leg cramps. Importance Magnesium supplements are widely marketed for prophylaxis of nocturnal leg cramps (NLC) despite no evidence of significant benefit.
Apply heat or cold. Use a warm towel or heating pad on tense or tight muscles. Taking a warm bath or directing the stream of a hot shower onto the cramped muscle also can help. Alternatively, massaging the cramped muscle with ice may relieve pain.
Magnesium is often recommended as a natural treatment for leg cramps, and there are many different magnesium supplements available.
Therefore, magnesium supplements can be taken at any time of the day, as long as you're able to take them consistently. For some, taking supplements first thing in the morning may be easiest, while others may find that taking them with dinner or just before bed works well for them.
In general, night leg cramps are likely to be related to muscle fatigue and nerve problems. The risk of having night leg cramps increases with age. Pregnant women also have a higher likelihood of having night leg cramps.
Taking large or frequent doses of dietary magnesium supplements, including magnesium glycinate, can cause adverse effects, including diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps. Extremely high intakes of magnesium can lead to an irregular heartbeat and potentially a cardiac arrest, which can be dangerous.
Liquids, powders, or some other forms of this product may contain sugar and/or aspartame. Liquid products may also contain alcohol. Caution is advised if you have diabetes, alcohol dependence, liver disease, phenylketonuria (PKU), or any other condition that requires you to limit/avoid these substances in your diet.
Magnesium Glycinate
This means that magnesium is combined with the amino acid glycine. Overall, the glycinate form absorbs better and is least likely to cause digestive distress. More commonly, you will find magnesium glycinate in capsule form.
A significant body of research has found that increasing your magnesium intake can help with the frequency of night time leg cramps, especially for pregnant women. Health experts recommend getting at least 300 milligrams of magnesium each day.
Magnesium malate
This type of magnesium is a compound of magnesium and malic acid. Some evidence suggests that it is highly bioavailable and that people tolerate it well. A 2019 animal study found that out of several types of magnesium, magnesium malate was the fastest to absorb after a single dose.
There is a variety of factors that can lead to leg cramps. The most common causes of cramps include dehydration, muscle overuse and muscle strain or trauma. A common alternate cause is venous insufficiency.
Bananas. It is most commonly said that bananas are good for leg cramps. They can provide you with potassium, promotes muscular function, but potassium also protects our nervous system. You can additionally get this from certain types of citrus fruits and melons.
Medications that are strongly associated with leg cramps include intravenous iron sucrose, conjugated estrogens, raloxifene, naproxen, and teriparatide.