Impact of magnesium supplementation, in combination with vitamin B6, on stress and magnesium status: secondary data from a randomized controlled trial

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Impact of magnesium supplementation, in combination with vitamin B6, on stress and magnesium status: secondary data from a randomized controlled trial

Noah et al., 2020 | Magnes Res | Rct

Citation

Noah Lionel, Pickering Gisele, ... Pouteau Etienne. Impact of magnesium supplementation, in combination with vitamin B6, on stress and magnesium status: secondary data from a randomized controlled trial. Magnes Res. 2020-Aug-01;33(3):45-57. doi:10.1684/mrh.2020.0468

Abstract

Primary findings from a recent study reported that magnesium supplementation significantly reduced stress in severely stressed subjects with low magnesemia, and additional vitamin B6 enhanced this effect. The mechanism by which combining magnesium and vitamin B6 leads to reduced stress in these subjects remains to be elucidated. This secondary analysis investigated the impact of magnesium and vitamin B6 supplementation and perceived stress on erythrocyte magnesium levels, as a marker of body magnesium status. This was a secondary analysis from an 8-week randomized controlled trial comparing oral magnesium (300 mg) and magnesium-vitamin B6 (300 mg + 30 mg) supplementation. Stress level and erythrocyte magnesium level at baseline, and change in erythrocyte magnesium and serum vitamin B6 levels at weeks 4 and 8, were analyzed. Overall, 264 subjects were randomized to treatment and had evaluable Depression Anxiety Stress Scale scores (132 in each treatment arm). At baseline, stress scores, and mean serum magnesium, erythrocyte magnesium, and serum vitamin B6 concentrations were similar between arms. Although not significant between groups, a significant increase over time in erythrocyte magnesium levels was observed in the subgroup of subjects with low baseline erythrocyte magnesium levels (<1.6 mmol/L) following treatment with magnesium and magnesium-vitamin B6 (week 4:0.21 mmol/L [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.10 to 0.31], p = 0.0003; and 0.13 mmol/L [95% CI, 0.02 to 0.23], p = 0.0233, respectively). Change from baseline in circulating vitamin B6 levels at weeks 4 and 8 in the magnesium-vitamin B6 supplemented group (314.96 nmol/L [95%CI, 294.61 to 335.31]) was significantly different (p < 0.0001) compared with the magnesium supplemented group (-0.39 nmol/L [95% CI, -20.73 to 19.94]). Magnesium alone and magnesium-vitamin B6 provided statistically significant increases in erythrocyte magnesium in subjects with low magnesium status (<1.6mmol/L). Vitamin B6 supplementation did not further increase magnesium levels.

Key Findings

Vitamin B6 supplementation did not further increase magnesium levels.

Outcomes Measured

  • anxiety
  • depression
  • serum magnesium levels

Population

Field Value
Population low magnesemia
Sample Size 264
Age Range See abstract
Condition anxiety

MeSH Terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Humans
  • Magnesium
  • Middle Aged
  • Vitamin B 6
  • Young Adult

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Rct
  • Publication Types: Clinical Trial, Phase IV, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Vertical: magnesium-anxiety

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09