Ranked by evidence
Best supplements for restless legs syndrome
Iron is the one supplement with real evidence in restless legs syndrome, and it matters most when your iron stores are low. A Cochrane review of 10 studies found iron probably improves restlessness and severity versus placebo, and the 2025 American Academy of Sleep Medicine guideline tells clinicians to test ferritin and transferrin saturation in everyone with significant symptoms. Picks are ranked by the evidence for restless legs, and all of them depend on your situation.
Picks are ranked by the strength of published evidence for this goal in otherwise healthy adults. A persistent symptom needs a clinician's evaluation, and no supplement on this list replaces treatment.
Evidence last reviewed: October 2026
Situational
| Option | Evidence | Best for | The honest note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferrous Sulfate | Strong evidence | restless legs with low ferritin | The AASM guideline suggests ferrous sulfate when ferritin is 75 ng/mL or lower or transferrin saturation is under 20%. A 325 mg tablet gives 65 mg elemental iron, close to the studied dose; recheck ferritin instead of taking it indefinitely. | View |
| Iron Bisglycinate | Moderate evidence | low ferritin, sensitive stomach | A gentler option if sulfate upsets your gut, with fewer GI side effects in pregnancy trials. Its ferritin gains, the marker that matters here, did not reach significance in its meta-analysis, so recheck your levels. | View |
| Restless Legs Formulas | Moderate evidence | only if the iron dose matches | The iron part has moderate support in iron-deficient restless legs, while the magnesium and B6 part rests on small trials, half at high risk of bias. No commercial blend has been tested, so check that it supplies about 65 mg elemental iron and that you actually need iron. | View |
| Troxerutin | Moderate evidence | restless legs with venous insufficiency | In chronic venous insufficiency, hydroxyethylrutosides improved pain, cramps, restless legs and swelling versus placebo. That is an effect on vein symptoms, not a treatment for restless legs syndrome itself. | View |
Popular for this goal — but the evidence says skip
- Magnesium Moderate evidence
The restless legs trials of magnesium are few and small, and half of the studies in the pooled review were at high risk of bias.
- Vitamin D3 Strong evidence
The same systematic review that found hints for magnesium and B6 found no benefit from vitamin D for restless legs.
- Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) Moderate evidence
The restless legs data come from small trials at high risk of bias, and long-term use above about 50 mg a day can cause nerve damage.
- Valerian Root Limited evidence
The 2025 AASM guideline suggests against valerian for restless legs, and its evidence for sleep is weak as well.
Our verdict
Get ferritin and transferrin saturation tested first, ideally in the morning after 24 hours without iron, and if ferritin is 75 ng/mL or lower, plain ferrous sulfate with your doctor's follow-up is the evidence-based start. Skip magnesium, vitamin D, vitamin B6 and valerian. Symptoms that start or worsen with antidepressants, antihistamines or dopamine drugs need a doctor, not a supplement.