Efficacy of Oral Magnesium Administration on Decreased Exercise Tolerance in a State of Chronic Sleep Deprivation

Abstract

We have previously reported that chronic sleep deprivation causes a deficiency of intracellular magnesium (Mg) and decreased exercise tolerance. The aim of this study was to clarify whether oral administration of Mg could be effective in restoring the exercise tolerance that is decreased by chronic sleep deprivation. A bicycle ergometer cardiopulmonary exercise test was performed by 16 healthy volunteers (mean age 21.9 years). They were divided into 2 groups: 8 received doses of 100 mg of Mg orally per day for 1 month (Mg group) and the remaining 8 received no Mg and served as the control group. The study conditions were designed as follows: (1) the usual state (good sleep); and (2) the sleep-deprived state (sleeping time up to 60% less than the usual state for 1 month). The ratio of intracellular Mg content of the sleep-deprived state to the usual sleep state was significantly higher in the Mg group (p<0.05) than the untreated control group. There was no difference between the sleep-deprived state and the usual state with regard to anaerobic threshold and peak oxygen uptake in the Mg group, whereas both of these decreased in the sleep-deprived state in the control group. These results indicate that decreased exercise tolerance observed in the sleep-deprived state could be improved by oral Mg administration.

Effect of chronic stress and sleep deprivation on both flow‐mediated dilation in the brachial artery and the intracellular magnesium level in humans

“…19 In addition, both experimental and human studies revealed that mental and psychosocial stress decrease endothelial function. 11,20,21 According to Tanabe et al 's reports,4,6 the decreased levels of intracellular magnesium in this study were identical to those between temporary and persistent sleep deprivative conditions; they are thus considered to be a reflection of sleep deprivation in our study protocol.…”

“…Sleep deprivation has been reported to decrease the intracellular magnesium level in humans, 4,6 and mental stress has also recently been reported to cause transient endothelial dysfunction in the brachial artery in humans; 11 however, the relationship between intracellular magnesium levels and endothelial function has not yet been fully investigated. Magnesium is considered to be a physiologic calcium antagonist and has been reported to decrease vascular tone.…”

“…It detrimentally influences various neurohumoral conditions as well as exercise capacity even in healthy subjects. 4 Chronic mental and physical stress have also been suggested to be a trigger for cardiovascular events.…”

“…As a result, magnesium deficiency can cause coronary arterial spasms and lethal arrhythmia in patients with a history of myocardial infarction. 5 In some reports, 4,6 chronic sleep deprivation has been reported to cause magnesium deficiency. Endothelial-dependent and -independent arterial vasomotion is also associated with the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease.…”

Magnesium in the Central Nervous System

“…Magnesium has a favourable effect with respect to sleep onset and maintenance and also tiredness, which appears as a consequence of sleep deprivation. In their studies of chronic sleep deprivation, Tanabe et al, (1998) reported a reduction of intracellular magnesium level. This reduction was associated with a decreased exercise tolerance.…”