SynthesisThe Cochrane database of systematic reviews2002
Interventions for leg cramps in pregnancy.
Synthesis in The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2002. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
20 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Interventions for leg cramps in pregnancy.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2020Pooled it
- Quinine for muscle cramps.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2015Pooled it
- Magnesium for skeletal muscle cramps.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2012Pooled it
- Treatment for cramps in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2012Pooled it
- Non-drug therapies for lower limb muscle cramps.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2012Pooled it
- Interventions for leg cramps in pregnancy.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2000Pooled it
- A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study assessing the efficacy of magnesium oxide monohydrate in the treatment of nocturnal leg cramps.Nutrition journal · 2021Trial
- Pharmacological treatment of pregnancy complications in adults: An overview of phase IV clinical trials.Medicine · 2025Review
- Effect of vitamin K2 in the treatment of nocturnal leg cramps in the older population: Study protocol of a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.Frontiers in nutrition · 2023Article
- Sleep disorders in pregnancy.Breathe (Sheffield, England) · 2022Review
- The Use of Proton Pump Inhibitors May Increase Symptoms of Muscle Function Loss in Patients with Chronic Illnesses.International journal of molecular sciences · 2020Review
- Determination of Macro- and Microelements in the Inflorescences of Banana Tree Using ICP OES: Evaluation of the Daily Recommendations of Intake for Humans.TheScientificWorldJournal · 2020Article
- The Importance of Magnesium in Clinical Healthcare.Scientifica · 2017Review
- The effect of Vitamin D and calcium plus Vitamin D on leg cramps in pregnant women: A randomized controlled trial.Journal of research in medical sciences : the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences · 2017Article
- Sleep-related movement disorders.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2012Review
- Unknotting night-time muscle cramp: a survey of patient experience, help-seeking behaviour and perceived treatment effectiveness.Journal of foot and ankle research · 2012Article
- Magnesium in disease.Clinical kidney journal · 2012Article
- Productivity cost due to maternal ill health in Sri Lanka.PloS one · 2012Article
- Nocturnal leg cramps.Current neurology and neuroscience reports · 2010Review
- A review of the methodological features of systematic reviews in maternal medicine.BMC medicine · 2007Review
Corrections and comments
- Update of
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMany women experience leg cramps in pregnancy. They become more common as pregnancy progresses and are especially troublesome at night.
objectivesThe objective of this review was to assess methods of preventing and treating leg cramps in pregnancy. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register (October 2001). SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised trials of treatments for leg cramps in pregnancy. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Trial quality was assessed and data were extracted independently by two reviewers. MAIN
resultsFive trials involving 352 women were included. The trials were of moderate quality. The only placebo-controlled trial of calcium treatment showed no evidence of benefit. Trials comparing sodium chloride with placebo (odds ratio 0.54, 95% confidence interval 0.23 to 1.29) and calcium with sodium chloride (odds ratio 1.23, 95% confidence intervals 0.47 to 3.27 ) showed no evidence of benefit. Placebo controlled trials of multivitamin with mineral supplements (odds ratio 0.23, 95% confidence intervals 0.05 to 1.01) and magnesium (odds ratio 0.18, 95% confidence intervals 0.05 to 0.60) provided some suggestion of benefit. REVIEWER'S
conclusionsThe evidence that calcium reduces cramp is weak and seems to depend on placebo effect. The evidence for sodium chloride is stronger but the results of the sodium chloride trial may no longer be relevant because of dietary changes which include an increased sodium intake in the general population. It is not possible to recommend multivitamins with mineral supplementation, as it is not clear which ingredient, if any, is helping. If a woman finds cramp troublesome in pregnancy, the best evidence is for magnesium lactate or citrate taken as 5mmol in the morning and 10mmol in the evening.
Indexed as
Identifiers
11869565What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.