Have any supplements been studied for muscle cramps?

    Last Updated: October 25, 2023

    There is limited evidence for supplementation for the treatment of muscle cramps.

    Magnesium has been found to be ineffective for preventative use of muscle cramps in the elderly, and has mixed results in pregnancy.[1][2][3][4]

    One small trial of a B complex supplement containing 50 mg of fursultiamine (a derivative of Thiamine), 250 µg hydroxocobalamin (vitamin B12a), 30 mg of pyridoxal phosphate (the active form of vitamin B6), and 5 mg of riboflavin showed 86% remission rate of muscle cramps in nocturnal leg cramps in elderly patients with hypertension. However, completion rate and compliance were not discussed in the study.[5] Another small study found a B complex (100 mg thiamine, 40 mg pyridoxine) effective in reducing muscle cramp frequency and intensity in pregnant study participants.[6]

    Calcium and vitamin D supplementation (both together and alone) have been studied for leg cramps in pregnancy, but they were not found to be consistently effective at reducing cramping.[7]

    References

    1. ^Scott R Garrison, Christina S Korownyk, Michael R Kolber, G Michael Allan, Vijaya M Musini, Ravneet K Sekhon, Nicolas DugréMagnesium for skeletal muscle crampsCochrane Database Syst Rev.(2020 Sep 21)
    2. ^Sebo P, Cerutti B, Haller DMEffect of magnesium therapy on nocturnal leg cramps: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials with meta-analysis using simulations.Fam Pract.(2014-Feb)
    3. ^Zhou K, West HM, Zhang J, Xu L, Li WInterventions for leg cramps in pregnancy.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.(2015-Aug-11)
    4. ^Araújo CAL, Lorena SB, Cavalcanti GCS, Leão GLS, Tenório GP, Alves JGBOral magnesium supplementation for leg cramps in pregnancy-An observational controlled trial.PLoS One.(2020)
    5. ^Chan P, Huang TY, Chen YJ, Huang WP, Liu YCRandomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the safety and efficacy of vitamin B complex in the treatment of nocturnal leg cramps in elderly patients with hypertension.J Clin Pharmacol.(1998-Dec)
    6. ^Sohrabvand F, Shariat M, Haghollahi FVitamin B supplementation for leg cramps during pregnancy.Int J Gynaecol Obstet.(2006-Oct)
    7. ^Luo L, Zhou K, Zhang J, Xu L, Yin WInterventions for leg cramps in pregnancy.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.(2020-Dec-04)