Durlach, J · Magnesium research · 1992
This study explored whether people with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) might have low magnesium levels in their bodies. Magnesium is a mineral that helps muscles and nerves work properly. The researcher examined the connection between magnesium deficiency and ME/CFS symptoms to understand if treating low magnesium could help patients feel better.
This study is important because it was among the first to formally investigate magnesium deficiency as a potential biological mechanism in ME/CFS, moving beyond purely psychological explanations. If magnesium deficiency contributes to ME/CFS symptoms, it could lead to a simple, safe, and inexpensive intervention that patients could access. This research helped establish the foundation for investigating metabolic and biochemical abnormalities in ME/CFS.
This study does not prove that magnesium deficiency causes ME/CFS or that all ME/CFS patients have low magnesium. The finding of an association between magnesium levels and fatigue does not establish causation—low magnesium could be a consequence rather than a cause of the illness. Without larger follow-up studies and mechanistic investigations, it remains unclear how significant magnesium supplementation would be as a standalone treatment.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
The first block is for the primary paper and is the citation you should use in research work. The atlas-snapshot line only applies if you are specifically referring to this atlas’s reading of the paper on the date shown.
Primary citation
Durlach, J (1992). Chronic fatigue syndrome and chronic primary magnesium deficiency (CFS and CPMD).. Magnesium research. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1591146/
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-durlach-1992-chronic-fatigue,
author = {Durlach, J},
title = {Chronic fatigue syndrome and chronic primary magnesium deficiency (CFS and CPMD).},
journal = {Magnesium research},
year = {1992},
note = {PubMed: 1591146},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/durlach-1992-chronic-fatigue},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-29. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/durlach-1992-chronic-fatigue
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