If you suffer from restless legs syndrome, you know that it can be difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Are vitamins and supplements effective? Sleep medicine doctors who specialize in restless leg syndrome suggest that patients should tread carefully with these over-the-counter treatments.
“There’s a lot of support for iron, but little support for anything else. I’m wary of products that claim to help symptoms when nothing has been proven,” says the neurologist in Ann Arbor, Michigan. says J. Andrew Berkowski, M.D., physician and founder of ReLACS Health, a direct specialty practice. A care sleep clinic specializing in the management of complex sleep conditions, including restless legs syndrome.
“It may be effective in cases of mild restless legs syndrome, but if you are dealing with moderate or severe restless legs syndrome, it is unlikely to be ineffective,” says Dr. , added Dr. Brian Koo, director of the center. Yale University Medical Program for Restless Leg Syndrome in New Haven, CT.
What does the evidence say about these 5 vitamins for restless leg syndrome?
Here are the facts you need to know when trying these vitamins and considering supplements to help with restless legs syndrome (RLS).
1. Iron
Of all the supplements out there, iron should be your first choice for managing the symptoms of restless legs syndrome.
This is why treatment guidelines call for health care providers to test iron levels in patients with restless legs syndrome, Dr. Khoo said, adding that they typically continue to test patients’ iron levels even after diagnosis. .
But Burkowski says he wouldn’t recommend that patients take iron without consulting them. Treatment guidelines call for people who meet the criteria to take approximately 65 milligrams (mg) of iron on an empty stomach every 1 to 2 days, along with approximately 100 to 200 mg of vitamin C (vitamin C is (helps absorb iron).
Burkowski suggests it’s best to get iron naturally through your diet. Lean meat is the top source. “Not only does red meat contain the most iron, it’s also the best for your body to absorb.”
Related: Main food sources of vitamin C
2. Vitamin C and E
“Vitamin C increases iron absorption and helps reduce the effects of iron absorption inhibitors,” says Preeti Devnani, M.D., a staff physician at the Cleveland Clinic Sleep Disorders Center and a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. says.
“Vitamins have been shown to have an effect on symptoms in patients with kidney failure, but this study has not been conducted in the general population,” said John Winkelman, M.D., professor of psychiatry and clinical director of sleep disorders at Harvard Medical School. To tell. Research program at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Dr. Winkelman is a co-author of both sets of restless legs syndrome treatment guidelines mentioned above.
Related: Health benefits of vitamin C supplements
3. Magnesium
Dr. Devnani says there is anecdotal evidence that magnesium can help treat other types of leg cramps, but it doesn’t necessarily help treat restless leg syndrome. “We cannot draw any conclusions about the effectiveness of magnesium for restless legs syndrome or which specific patient groups may benefit,” she says of the evidence so far.
“We get asked about this a lot. Magnesium is often recommended, but there’s no evidence that it helps with restless leg syndrome,” says Burkowski.
Related: food sources of magnesium
4. Melatonin
Melatonin is a popular over-the-counter sleep aid that people use to treat insomnia, sleep disorders, jet lag, or simply to stay asleep. It’s also a natural hormone produced by the brain in response to darkness, which helps signal your body to sleep. To increase drowsiness and induce sleep, the supplement form should be taken approximately 30 minutes before bedtime.
Melatonin helps with circadian sleep disorders such as jet lag and shift work disorder, but restless leg syndrome is a movement disorder, Berkowski points out.
Related: Melatonin mistakes sleep doctors want to avoid
5. Vitamin D
Early research suggests that supplements may help sleep for people with restless leg syndrome who have vitamin D deficiency. But experts warn there is not yet enough evidence to widely recommend it to patients.
Still, Burkowski says there isn’t enough evidence yet for sleep experts to recommend vitamin D supplements as a treatment option. “This needs further testing as there is no convincing mechanism as to why it works,” he says.
Related: What is the recommended intake of vitamin D?
Bottom line: Should you consider supplements to help with restless legs syndrome?
First and foremost, Koo, Berkowski and Winkelmann say people with restless legs syndrome should work with their doctors to discuss lifestyle changes and treatment options that can help manage their symptoms. do.
Winkelmann said that while there is evidence that some supplements may play a role in symptom management, there is not yet enough evidence to broadly recommend them to all patients.
“Given that we have many effective approaches that work, we shouldn’t tell people who are really suffering to try[vitamins or supplements]without evidence that they will help.” Winkelmann says. However, getting enough of these vitamins in your diet is a wise move to avoid deficiencies.
Evidence-backed treatment options for restless legs syndrome include:
- Lifestyle changes Burkowski says avoiding alcohol, caffeine and tobacco can help manage symptoms. Sitting still for long periods of time can trigger the symptoms of restless legs syndrome, so it’s a good idea to make time to exercise each day.
- antiepileptic drug Drugs such as gabapentin (Neurontin, Horizant) and pregabalin (Lyrica) are often the first-line treatment. It relieves both leg discomfort and nerve pain.
- dopamine agonist The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several options to treat moderate to severe restless legs syndrome, including ropinirole (Requip), pramipexole (Mirapex), and rotigotine (Neupro).
- opioid Opioids are a type of drug used to relieve pain, but they carry the risk of addiction. It may be used to treat severe restless leg syndrome symptoms when other drugs do not improve symptoms. Examples include codeine, oxycodone, and hydrocodone.
