Magnesium Sulfate Study

The Magnesium Sulfate study evaluated a new treatment for severe and moderate head injury. Magnesium sulfate is a naturally occurring substance in the body that is necessary for proper nerve and muscle function. The purpose of this study was to determine if treating head injured patients with increased magnesium sulfate within 8 hours of injury would improve physical, cognitive and psychological recovery by reducing damage to the brain. In particular, we studied the patient's ability to return to daily life, live independently, and return to work or school. We also assessed magnesium sulfate's ability to reduce the risk of developing seizures (epilepsy), improve survival rates and the ability to think, concentrate and remember after a traumatic brain injury.

This study was a randomized, controlled study in order to determine whether the treatment really works. This means that half of the patients enrolled in this study were randomly selected to receive magnesium sulfate and the other half to receive an inactive medication, also called a placebo. The participants were examined at 1, 3, and 6 months after injury on a comprehensive battery of measures to determine how they were doing. In addition, all patients received standard care for their head injury.

Four hundred ninety nine patients were in the study.   One hundred ninety one got moderately increased magnesium, 59 got higher dose magnesium and 249 got placebo.  Magnesium did not increase survival or improve any of the measured aspects of recovery.  The risk of epilepsy was no lower among those who received extra magnesium.  We found no subgroups of patients who seemed to benefit from the additional magnesium.  The results were published in Lancet Neurology (Lancet Neurol 2007; 6:29-38).

Prior to this study, research using rats suggested that increased magnesium had promise to improve memory and functioning after brain injury.   This large study in humans, however, showed that magnesium sulfate treatment was not effective in increasing survival or improving functioning in people with moderate or severe brain injuries.  The results will be helpful in guiding future research and in the present and future treatment of persons with moderate or severe head injury.