Dear Dr. SerVaas: In your Sept./Oct. issue, I saw a very interesting article about restless legs. I had trouble with that a long time. Then I read about taking 250 mg of magnesium every day. I started it right away and noticed results within a week. I am so thankful! I hope this helps other sufferers.
Gerda Snider
Sacramento, California
Dear Reader: We're glad that you no longer have an RLS problem after you began taking magnesium.
It is conceivable that restless legs syndrome (RLS) can be caused by a number of different nutritional deficiencies.
The following letter came by e-mall from Dr. Gerald M. Lemole, chief of cardiac surgery at Delaware Medical Center. Dr. Lemole was a member of the surgical team that performed the first successful heart transplant in the United States. Dr. Lemole writes:
"Dear Dr. SerVaas:
"Mehmet Oz, my son-in-law, gave me your e-mail address and suggested I contact you regarding RLS.
"In the Sept./Oct. 2003 'Medical Mailbox,' you mention folic acid, B12, and magnesium to ensure good health and said, 'There is no reason for senior citizens not to supplement, since they are such essential nutrients.' I believe this is good advice; however, there are many reasons to supplement, including the prevention and treatment of degenerative disease.
"With the advent of processed food manufacturers adding folic acid to their products, many of the signs of B12 deficiency may be missing. An aging population, changes in diet, and gastrointestinal disturbances can also lead to B12 deficiency.
"In conditions such as RLS, we have found it effective to give B12 shots daily, as well as other supportive micronutrients. Trigeminal neuralgia is another malady that responds well to a similar protocol. We presented this approach to the Trigeminal Neuralgia International meeting last year in San Diego with an enthusiastic reception.
"The nerve sheath, which insulates the neuronal impulses, is comprised largely of cholesterol, syringomyelin, lecithin, and other phospholipids. All of these components need B12 for their production, and as B12 availability decreases, so do these insulating substances. I hope this information is helpful."
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