Dear Dr. SerVaas: I am having quite a lot of trouble with restless legs syndrome and am losing sleep. I believe it has been suggested that a mineral of some type might help.

Judy Reader
via e-mail

Dear Reader: Evidence shows that iron deficiency may be related to some cases of restless legs syndrome. The body stores iron in liver, spleen, and bone marrow cells in the form of an iron-phosphorus-protein complex called ferritin. In studies, taking oral or intravenous iron supplements to bring ferritin levels above 60 mg/dl (normal ferritin levels: 18 to 300 mg/dl) has led to marked improvement, and sometimes complete resolution, of RLS symptoms.

While no medicines have yet been approved for the condition, a major new study helps confirm that the drug Requip (ropinirole HC1) improves RLS symptoms and is generally well tolerated.

"This is the largest controlled trial of ropinirole in RLS conducted to date, and the results affirm the efficacy and tolerability findings from previous small studies. The results, therefore, are very favorable," said Dr. Diego Garcia-Borreguero, a key study investigator and director of a sleep disorders unit in Madrid, Spain. "As a physician who treats patients with RLS, I am very excited about the improvement of symptoms, such as the irresistible urge to move, and positive impact on sleep in this study."

The 12-week study of 284 adults with RLS was conducted in 43 hospitals in 10 European countries. Patients taking the drug reported decreases in their symptom scores that were 27 percent greater than those seen with patients who received an inactive pill.

Requip--approved for treating Parkinson's disease--has some of the same effects on nerve cells as the naturally occurring chemical dopamine.