Evaluating the Therapeutic Impact of Magnesium Citrate Supplementation on Neuropathic Symptoms in Diabetic Patients With Peripheral Polyneuropathy; a Randomized, Double-Blind, Clinical Trial Study Publisher



Arani AR ; Zangi M ; Hajiesmaeili M ; Kavand S ; Oshidari B ; Soori M ; Ghazizadeh AH ; Gerdfaramarzi SS ; Amirdosara M
Source: Immunopathologia Persa Published:2026

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetic peripheral polyneuropathy is a common complication of type 2 diabetes characterized by nerve damage and neuropathic symptoms. Magnesium deficiency has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy, as magnesium plays a critical role in nerve function, glucose metabolism, and inflammation modulation. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the therapeutic impact of oral magnesium citrate supplementation on neuropathic symptoms in diabetic patients. Patients and Methods: This randomized, double-blind, clinical trial was conducted on 60 adult patients with type 2 diabetes and clinically confirmed peripheral neuropathy, referred to Loghman Hakim hospital in Tehran, Iran, between July 2023 and August 2024. Patients were assigned to two equal groups of 30 patients. The control received a placebo, and the magnesium group received 300 mg of magnesium citrate daily for 8 weeks. Data on demographics, diabetes management, clinical status, and informed written consent were collected at baseline. Neuropathy was assessed using the validated neuropathy disability score (NDS) at baseline, 1 month, and 2 months, and was compared within and between groups. Results: The results demonstrate that although changes in the NDS between the magnesium-treated and control groups were comparable at baseline vs 1-month follow-up (significant mean difference [SMD] = 0.36, confidence interval [CI]: -1.17-0.91) and showed minor non-significant changes in one month vs 2-months (SMD = 0.97, CI: 0.32-1.60), the magnesium group experienced significant improvements in neuropathy symptoms over the two-month follow-up compared to baseline (SMD = 0.61, CI: -0.08-1.28). Concussion: The results suggest that magnesium treatment leads to significant improvement in neuropathy symptoms over a two-month follow-up. These findings support the neuroprotective role of magnesium, which is believed to reduce nerve damage and inflammation, improve nerve function, and potentially slow neuropathic progression. This finding highlights magnesium’s promise as an effective adjunctive therapy for managing neuropathy, particularly in diabetic patients. Trial Registration: The trial protocol was approved by the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (identifier: IRCT20230522058258N1), and ethical code from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (IR.SBMU. MSP.REC.1402.125; https://ethics.research.ac.ir/EthicsProposalView.php?id=358688). Copyright © 2026 The Author(s); Published by Nickan Research Institute. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.