Oral application of magnesium-L-threonate enhances analgesia and reduces the dosage of opioids needed in advanced cancer patients-A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
PubMed 36703238 · doi:10.1002/cam4.4922
What was done
A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted at a tertiary hospital in Shanghai, China evaluated 83 advanced cancer patients taking oral opioids. Participants were randomized to receive oral magnesium-L-threonate (L-TAMS capsules, 1.5 g or 2.0 g daily based on weight) or a starch placebo. The primary outcome was the increase in daily oral morphine dose measured at 7, 14, 21, 30, 60, and 90 days.
What was found
Daily morphine dose increases were significantly lower in the L-TAMS group than the placebo group starting at day 30 (9.85 mg/d vs. 20.49 mg/d, p < 0.05), persisting at day 60 (15.96 mg/d vs. 29.06 mg/d, p < 0.05), and at day 90 (21.20 mg/d vs. 40.44 mg/d, p < 0.01). The abstract states that L-TAMS significantly relieved opioid-induced constipation, but no numerical data were provided for this outcome.
Why it matters
This study suggests that magnesium-L-threonate may act as an effective opioid-sparing adjuvant to slow analgesic tolerance and reduce opioid dose escalation in advanced cancer pain management.
Limits
The study was a single-center trial with a relatively small sample size (n = 83). The abstract lacks numerical reporting for cancer types, baseline opioid doses, actual pain scores, adverse events, completion rates, and the constipation outcome.
Cited by
- supports Magnesium threonate contains a very low amount of elemental magnesium.