What it is
Regulatory status: essential nutrient and dietary supplement ingredient
Mechanism evidence: human
At a glance
What it is, why people use it, the evidence, and what to know before trying it.
Why people use it
- Correct magnesium deficiency
- Sleep support
- Muscle and nerve function
Evidence at a glance
Magnesium is essential and deficiency should be corrected. For sleep, evidence is inconsistent and cannot be assigned to a generic magnesium item when the salt and elemental dose were not reported.
Confidence: moderate
Safety & interactions
Known side effects, interactions and use limits from reviewed sources.
Supplemental magnesium commonly causes diarrhea, nausea or cramping. Severe toxicity is uncommon with normal kidneys but can occur with kidney impairment or very high doses. Magnesium can reduce absorption of some antibiotics and bisphosphonates.
- Significant kidney impairment without clinician supervision
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Abdominal cramping
- Tetracycline and quinolone antibiotics
- Bisphosphonates
- Some diuretics
Forms and variants
This review does not automatically apply to:
- magnesium L-threonate
- magnesium bisglycinate
- intravenous magnesium
- magnesium-containing blends