The Mechanisms of Magnesium in Sleep Disorders

Caijun He,1 Biao Wang,1 Xuanyu Chen,1 Jiacheng Xu,2 Yaxin Yang,1 Mei Yuan1,2 1Department of Neurology, Hengyang Medical School, The Second Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Neurology, Hengyang Medical School, Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Mei Yuan, Department of Neurology, Hengyang Medical School, Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, People’s Republic of China, Email 2012020002@usc.edu.cnAbstract: Sleep is a highly elaborate biological occurrence, necessitating the combined action and participation of diverse brain regions. The sleep-wake cycle is regulated by a multitude of factors, including various hormones produced by the hypothalamus and external stimuli. Sleep disorders can accelerate the progression of numerous diseases or directly trigger the onset of many health conditions. However, the specific regulatory mechanisms remain elusive. In recent years, the role of magnesium in sleep disorders has garnered considerable attention. Magnesium not only reduces the excitability of the nervous system and alters muscle relaxation but also regulates cellular biological clocks, energy balance, and circadian rhythms, playing a crucial role in sleep regulation. Magnesium deficiency not only shortens the effective sleep duration but also impairs sleep quality, leading to various specific sleep disorders. Additionally, magnesium supplements can improve sleep parameters in a variety of sleep-related diseases, especially those associated with the occurrence and development of sleep disorders. Therefore, a more in-depth understanding of the impact of magnesium on sleep disorders may reveal new therapeutic targets for sleep-related diseases. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the latest key findings on the mechanism of action of magnesium in sleep health and its role in initiating or exacerbating common sleep disorders, providing new insights into the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorder-related diseases.Keywords: magnesium, sleep, sleep disorder