title: A pilot phase II trial of magnesium supplements to reduce menopausal hot flashes in breast cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We tested if magnesium would diminish bothersome hot flashes in breast cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Breast cancer patients with at least 14 hot flashes a week received magnesium oxide 400 mg for 4 weeks, escalating to 800 mg if needed. Hot flash score (frequency × severity) at baseline was compared to the end of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 29 who enrolled, 25 women completed treatment. The average age was 53.5 years; six African American, the rest Caucasian; eight were on tamoxifen, nine were on aromatase inhibitors, and 14 were on anti-depressants. Seventeen patients escalated the magnesium dose. Hot flash frequency/week was reduced from 52.2 (standard error (SE), 13.7) to 27.7 (SE, 5.7), a 41.4% reduction, p = 0.02, two-sided paired t test. Hot flash score was reduced from 109.8 (SE, 40.9) to 47.8 (SE, 13.8), a 50.4% reduction, p = 0.04. Of 25 patients, 14 (56%) had a >50% reduction in hot flash score, and 19 (76%) had a >25% reduction. Fatigue, sweating, and distress were all significantly reduced. Side effects were minor: two women stopped the drug including one each with headache and nausea, and two women had grade 1 diarrhea. Compliance was excellent, and many patients continued treatment after the trial.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral magnesium appears to have helped more than half of the patients and was well tolerated. Side effects and cost ($0.02/tablet) were minimal. A randomized placebo-controlled trial is planned.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine Residency Program, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Haeseong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Gwendolyn L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: Cecelia H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Boardman
authors.forename: Monica M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016527:Drug Costs; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008277:Magnesium Oxide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D008277:Magnesium Oxide