Abstract
BackgroundOral magnesium supplementation is commonly used to support a low magnesium diet. This investigation set out to determine whether magnesium in a cream could be absorbed transdermally in humans to improve magnesium status.Methods and findingsIn this single blind, parallel designed pilot study, n = 25 participants (aged 34.3+/-14.8y, height 171.5+/-11cm, weight 75.9 +/-14 Kg) were randomly assigned to either a 56mg/day magnesium cream or placebo cream group for two weeks. Magnesium serum and 24hour urinary excretion were measured at baseline and at 14 days intervention. Food diaries were recorded for 8 days during this period. Mg test and placebo groups’ serum and urinary Mg did not differ at baseline. After the Mg2+ cream intervention there was a clinically relevant increase in serum magnesium (0.82 to 0.89 mmol/l,p = 0.29) that was not seen in the placebo group (0.77 to 0.79 mmol/L), but was only statistically significant (p = 0.02)) in a subgroup of non-athletes. Magnesium urinary excretion increased from baseline slightly in the Mg2+ group but with no statistical significance (p = 0.48). The Mg2+ group showed an 8.54% increase in serum Mg2+ and a 9.1% increase in urinary Mg2+ while these figures for the placebo group were smaller, i.e. +2.6% for serum Mg2+ and -32% for urinary Mg2+. In the placebo group, both serum and urine concentrations showed no statistically significant change after the application of the placebo cream.ConclusionNo previous studies have looked at transdermal absorbency of Mg2+ in human subjects. In this pilot study, transdermal delivery of 56 mg Mg/day (a low dose compared with commercial transdermal Mg2+ products available) showed a larger percentage rise in both serum and urinary markers from pre to post intervention compared with subjects using the placebo cream, but statistical significance was achieved only for serum Mg2+ in a subgroup of non-athletes. Future studies should look at higher dosage of magnesium cream for longer durations.Trial registrationISRCTN registry ID No. ISRTN15136969
Highlights
Mineral elements, such as magnesium (Mg2+), are required by the human body in modest amounts for the maintenance of health and the development of optimal functioning[1])
Transdermal delivery of 56 mg Mg/day showed a larger percentage rise in both serum and urinary markers from pre to post intervention compared with subjects using the placebo
Transdermal magnesium cream absorption magnesium concentration is more than double that used in the pilot study and it is a different formulation
Summary
Mineral elements, such as magnesium (Mg2+), are required by the human body in modest amounts for the maintenance of health and the development of optimal functioning[1]). Mg2+ is an important mineral element and it is the fourth most abundant cation in living organisms, with Mg2+ being a cofactor to over 325 enzymatic reactions within the body [2]. Mg2+ supplementation has been shown to significantly improve blood pressure [4,5,6] as well as modifying vascular tone by regulating endothelium and smooth muscle cell function [4]. Oral magnesium supplementation is commonly used to support a low magnesium diet. This investigation set out to determine whether magnesium in a cream could be absorbed transdermally in humans to improve magnesium status
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