Health Information

Magnesium

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Principal Proposed UsesOther Proposed UsesNot Recommended Uses


Magnesium

Supplement Forms/Alternate Names

  • Magnesium Chloride
  • Magnesium Citrate
  • Magnesium Fumarate
  • Magnesium Gluconate
  • Magnesium Malate
  • Magnesium Orotate
  • Magnesium Oxide
  • Magnesium Sulfate

Uses

Principal Proposed Uses

Other Proposed Uses

Not Recommended Uses

Magnesium is an essential nutrient, meaning that your body needs it for healthy functioning. It is found in significant quantities throughout the body and used for numerous purposes, including muscle relaxation, blood clotting, and the manufacture of ATP (adenosine triphosphate, the body's main energy molecule).
It has been called nature's calcium channel blocker. The idea refers to magnesium's ability to block calcium from entering muscle and heart cells. A group of prescription heart medications work in a similar way, although much more powerfully. This may be the basis for some of magnesium's effects when it is taken as a supplement in fairly high doses.

Requirements/Sources

Requirements

Requirements for magnesium increase as we grow and age. The official US and Canadian recommendations for daily intake are as follows:
  • Infants
    • 0-6 months: 30 mg
    • 7-12 months: 75 mg
  • Children
    • 1-3 years: 80 mg
    • 4-8 years: 130 mg
  • Males
    • 9-13 years: 240 mg
    • 14-18 years: 410 mg
    • 19-30 years: 400 mg
    • 31 years and older: 420 mg
  • Females
    • 9-13 years: 240 mg
    • 14-18 years: 360 mg
    • 19-30 years: 310 mg
    • 31 years and older: 320 mg
  • Pregnant Women
    • 18 years and younger: 400 mg
    • 19-30 years: 350 mg
    • 31-50 years: 360 mg
  • Nursing Women
    • 18 years and younger: 360 mg
    • 19-30 years: 310 mg
    • 31-50 years: 320 mg
Note : These recommendations refer to total intake from food plus supplements. The average diet provides a daily intake of magnesium very close to these amounts.

Sources

Kelp is very high in magnesium. Other good sources include blackstrap molasses, brewer's yeast (not to be confused with nutritional yeast), and buckwheat. The National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements provides this list of other foods that contain magnesium:125
Food Serving size Magnesium content
(milligrams [mg]) 		% Daily Value
Wheat bran ¼ cup 89 22
Almonds, dry roasted 1 ounce 80 20
Spinach, frozen, cooked ½ cup 78 20
Raisin bran cereal 1 cup 77 19
Cashews, dry roasted 1 ounce 74 19
Soybeans, cooked ½ cup 74 19
Wheat germ ¼ cup 69 17
Mixed nuts, dry roasted 1 ounce 64 16
Bran flakes cereal ¾ cup 64 16
Shredded wheat cereal 2 biscuits 61 15
Fortified instant oatmeal 1 cup 61 15
Peanuts, dry roasted 1 ounce 50 13
Peanut butter 2 tablespoons 49 12
Baked potato (with skin) 1 medium 48 12
Blackeyed peas, cooked ½ cup 46 12
Pinto beans, cooked ½ cup 43 11
Brown rice, cooked ½ cup 42 11
Lentils, cooked ½ cup 36 9
Vegetarian baked beans ½ cup 35 9
Kidney beans, canned ½ cup 35 9

Magnesium Deficiency

In the United States, the average dietary intake of magnesium is lower than the recommended daily allowance; however, it is unclear whether this truly indicates deficiency, or if the recommended allowance is too high. 1,2Alcohol abuse , surgery , diabetes , zinc supplements, certain types of diuretics ( thiazide and loop diuretics , but not potassium-sparing diuretics ), estrogen and oral contraceptives , and the medications cisplatin and cyclosporin have been reported to reduce the body's level of magnesium or increase magnesium requirements. 3,4,5,88-92 If you are taking potassium supplements, you may receive greater benefit from them if you take extra magnesium as well.

Magnesium Absorption

While it is sometimes said that calcium interferes with magnesium absorption, this effect is apparently too small to have a significant effect on overall magnesium status. 8,9

Therapeutic Dosages

A typical supplemental dosage of magnesium ranges from the nutritional needs described above to as high as 600 mg daily. For premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation), an alternative approach is to start taking 500 to 1,000 mg daily, beginning on day 15 of the menstrual cycle and continuing until menstruation begins.
Magnesium citrate may be slightly more absorbable than other forms of magnesium. 100

Therapeutic Uses

Preliminary double-blind studies suggest that regular use of magnesium supplements may help prevent migraine headaches , 10-12,101 hearing loss caused by exposure to loud noises, 13 and kidney stones , 14 and help treat high blood pressure , 15-18,122angina , 19,97,115dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps), 21,22pregnancy-induced leg cramps , 41 and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) (including menstrual migraines). 23,24
People with diabetes are often deficient in magnesium, 27-29 and according to some (but not all) studies, magnesium supplementation may enhance blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity in people with diabetes or prediabetic conditions. 98,102-109,118 Magnesium may also help control blood pressure in people with both hypertension and diabetes. 123
One study found that magnesium supplements might be helpful for people with mitral valve prolapse who also have low levels of magnesium in the blood. 99
There is some evidence that magnesium may decrease the atherosclerosis risk caused by hydrogenated oils, the margarine-like fats found in many junk foods. 20
Studies on magnesium supplements for improving sports performance have returned contradictory results. 44-51
Magnesium supplements do not appear to be very helpful, if at all, for preventing preeclampsia . 6,7,52,53,110 (Magnesium, taken by injection rather than orally, however, is probably helpful for treating preeclampsia that already exists. 69,76,77 )
Magnesium is sometimes said to decrease symptoms of restless legs syndrome , but the evidence that it works consists solely of open trials without a placebo group, and such studies are not trustworthy. 25,26 (For information on why this is so, see Why Does This Database Rely on Double-blind Studies? ) Very weak evidence hints at possible benefits for insomnia . 111
It is often said that magnesium supplements are essential for preventing or treating osteoporosis , but there is only minimal supporting evidence for this claim. 119-120
Magnesium has also been suggested as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease , attention deficit disorder , fatigue , fibromyalgia , low HDL ("good") cholesterol , periodontal disease , rheumatoid arthritis , and stroke . However, there is virtually no evidence at all that it is helpful for any of these conditions.
Magnesium is sometimes advocated for stabilizing the heart after a heart attack , but one study actually found that use of magnesium slighltly increased risk of sudden death, repeat heart attack, or need for bypass surgery in the year following the initial heart attack. 78 However, magnesium may be helpful in congestive heart failure . 112 In a well-designed trial involving 79 patients with severe congestive heart failure, magnesium (as magnesium orotate) significantly improved survival and clinical symptoms after one year compared to a placebo. 121
Despite some early enthusiasm, combination therapy with vitamin B 6 and magnesium has not been found helpful in autism . 30-40,78-81
Alternative medical literature frequently mentions magnesium as a treatment for asthma . 124 However, this idea seems to be based primarily on the use of intravenous magnesium as an emergency treatment for asthma. When you take something by mouth, it's a very different matter from having it injected into your veins. Studies of oral magnesium for asthma have shown more negative than positive results. 42,113,116 Inhaled, aerosolized magnesium, however, has shown some promise. 117
Although magnesium is sometimes mentioned as a treatment to help keep the heart beating normally, a 6-month, double-blind trial of 170 people did not find it effective for preventing a particular heart rhythm abnormality called atrial fibrillation. 43 However, a small double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found that magnesium supplements reduced episodes of arrhythmia in individuals with congestive heart failure (CHF) . 82 One possible explanation: People with congestive heart failure often take drugs ( loop diuretics ) that deplete magnesium. The combination of magnesium deficiency with digoxin (another drug given for CHF) may cause arrhythmias. 4,93-95 Thus, it is possible that the benefits seen here were caused by correction of that depletion.
One double-blind, placebo-controlled study failed to find magnesium helpful in glaucoma . 87

What Is the Scientific Evidence for Magnesium?

Migraine Headaches

A double-blind study found that regular use of magnesium helps prevent migraine headaches . In this 12-week trial, 81 people with recurrent migraines were given either 600 mg of magnesium daily or placebo. 54 By the last 3 weeks of the study, the treated group's migraines had been reduced by 41.6%, compared to a reduction of 15.8% in the placebo group. The only side effects observed were diarrhea (in about one-fifth of the participants) and, less often, digestive irritation.
Similar results have been seen in other smaller double-blind studies. 55,56,114 One study found no benefit, 57 but it has been criticized on many significant points, including using an excessively strict definition of what constituted benefit. 58

Noise-related Hearing Loss

One double-blind, placebo-controlled study on 300 military recruits suggests that 167 mg of magnesium daily can prevent hearing loss due to exposure to high-volume noise. 59

Kidney Stones

Magnesium inhibits the growth of calcium oxalate stones in the test tube 60 and decreases stone formation in rats. 61 However, human studies have had mixed results. In one 2-year open study, 56 people taking magnesium hydroxide had fewer recurrences of kidney stones than 34 people not given magnesium. 62 In contrast, a double-blind (and, hence, more reliable) study of 124 people found that magnesium hydroxide was essentially no more effective than placebo. 63

Hypertension

Magnesium works with calcium and potassium to regulate blood pressure . Several studies suggest that magnesium supplements can reduce blood pressure in people with hypertension, 64-67,122,123 although some studies have not shown this.
In one study, 82 people (aged 40-75 years old) with diabetes, high blood pressure, and low levels of magnesium were randomized to receive 2.5 g of magnesium chloride or placebo for 4 months. 123 Those in the treatment group had lower blood pressure readings compared to those in the control group.

Angina

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 187 people with angina , 6 months of treatment with magnesium at a dose of 730 mg daily improved exercise tolerance and enhanced overall quality of life. 97 Benefits were also seen in a similar, smaller double-blind trial. 68

After a Heart Attack

In a 1-year, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 468 individuals who had just experienced a heart attack , use of a magnesium supplement at a dose of 360 mg daily failed to prevent heart-related events (defined as heart attack, sudden cardiac death, or need for cardiac bypass), and actually may have increased the risk slightly. 78

Dysmenorrhea

A 6-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 50 women with menstrual pain found that treatment with magnesium significantly improved symptoms. 70 The researchers reported evidence of reduced levels of prostaglandin F 2 alpha, a hormone-like substance involved in pain and inflammation.
Similarly positive results were seen in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 21 women. 71

Premenstrual Syndrome Symptoms

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 32 women found that magnesium taken from day 15 of the menstrual cycle to the onset of menstrual flow could significantly improve PMS symptoms, specifically mood changes. 72
Another small double-blind preliminary study found that regular use of magnesium could reduce symptoms of PMS-related fluid retention. 73 In this study, 38 women were given magnesium or placebo for 2 months. The results showed no effect after one cycle, but by the end of two cycles, magnesium significantly reduced weight gain, swelling of extremities, breast tenderness, and abdominal bloating.
In addition, one small double-blind study (20 participants) found that magnesium supplementation can help prevent menstrual migraines. 74
Preliminary evidence suggests that the combination of magnesium and vitamin B 6 might be more effective than either treatment alone. 75

Pregnancy-induced Leg Cramps

Pregnant women frequently experience painful leg cramping. One double-blind trial of 73 pregnant women found that 3 weeks of magnesium supplements significantly reduced leg cramps as compared to placebo. 83

Safety Issues

The US government has set the following upper limits for use of magnesium supplements:
  • Children
    • 1-3 years: 65 mg
    • 4-8 years: 110 mg
  • Adults : 350 mg
  • Pregnant or Nursing Women : 350 mg
In general, magnesium appears to be quite safe when taken at or below recommended dosages. The most common complaint is loose stools. However, people with severe kidney or heart disease should not take magnesium (or any other supplement) except on the advice of a physician. Maximum safe dosages have not been established for young children. There has been one case of death caused by excessive use of magnesium supplements in a developmentally and physically disabled child. 84  Pregnant or nursing women should not exceed the nutritional dosages presented under Requirements/Sources .
If taken at the same time, magnesium can interfere with the absorption of antibiotics in the tetracycline family, 85 and, possibly, the drug nitrofurantoin . 96 Also, when combined with oral diabetes drugs in the sulfonylurea family, magnesium may cause blood sugar levels to fall more than expected. 86

Interactions You Should Know About

If you are taking:

References

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10 Peikert A, Wilimzig C, Kohne-Volland R. Prophylaxis of migraine with oral magnesium: results from a prospective, multi-center, placebo-controlled and double-blind randomized study. Cephalalgia . 1996;16:257-263.

11 Taubert K. Magnesium in migraine. Results of a multicenter pilot study [in German; English abstract]. Fortschr Med . 1994;112:328-330.

12 Facchinetti F, Sances G, Borella P, et al. Magnesium prophylaxis of menstrual migraine: effects on intracellular magnesium. Headache . 1991;31:298-301.

13 Attias J, Weisz G, Almog S, et al. Oral magnesium intake reduces permanent hearing loss induced by noise exposure. Am J Otolaryngol. 1994;15:26-32.

14 Johansson G, Backman U, Danielson BG, et al. Biochemical and clinical effects of the prophylactic treatment of renal calcium stones with magnesium hydroxide. J Urol . 1980;124:770-774.

15 Shechter M, Sharir M, Labrador MJ, et al. Oral magnesium therapy improves endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease. Circulation . 2000;102:2353-2358.

16 Sanjuliani AF, de Abreu Fagundes VG, Francischetti EA. Effects of magnesium on blood pressure and intracellular ion levels of Brazilian hypertensive patients. Int J Cardiol . 1996;56:177-183.

17 Witteman JC, Grobbee DE, Derkx FH, et al. Reduction of blood pressure with oral magnesium supplementation in women with mild to moderate hypertension. Am J Clin Nutr . 1994;60:129-135.

18 Dyckner T, Wester PO. Effect of magnesium on blood pressure. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) . 1983;286:1847-1849.

19 Shechter M, Merz CN, Paul-Labrador M, et al. Beneficial antithrombotic effects of the association of pharmacological oral magnesium therapy with aspirin in coronary heart disease patients. Magnes Res . 2000;13:275-284.

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21 Fontana-Klaiber H, Hogg B. Therapeutic effects of magnesium in dysmenorrhea [in German; English abstract]. Schweiz Rundsch Med Prax . 1990;79:491-494.

22 Seifert VB, Wagler P, Dartsch S, et al. Magnesium—a new therapeutic alternative in primary dysmenorrhea [translated from German]. Zentralbl Gynakol . 1989;111:755-760.

23 Facchinetti F, Borella P, Sances G, et al. Oral magnesium successfully relieves premenstrual mood changes. Obstet Gynecol . 1991;78:177-181.

24 Facchinetti F, Sances G, Borella P, et al. Magnesium prophylaxis of menstrual migraine: effects on intracellular magnesium. Headache . 1991;31:298-301.

25 Hornyak M, Voderholzer U, Hohagen F, et al. Magnesium therapy for periodic leg movements-related insomnia and restless legs syndrome: An open pilot study. Sleep. 1998;21:501-505.

26 Popoviciu L, Asgian B, Delast-Popoviciu D, et al. Clinical, EEG, electromyographic and polysomnographic studies in restless legs syndrome caused by magnesium deficiency. Rom J Neurol Psychiatry. 1993;31:55-61.

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28 Tosiello L. Hypomagnesemia and diabetes mellitus: a review of clinical implications. Arch Intern Med . 1996;156:1143-1148.

29 Eibl NL, Kopp HP, Nowak HR, et al. Hypomagnesemia in type II diabetes: effect of a 3-month replacement therapy. Diabetes Care . 1995;18:188-192.

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42 Bernstein WK, Khastgir T, Khastgir A, et al. Lack of effectiveness of magnesium in chronic stable asthma. A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial in normal subjects and in patients with chronic stable asthma. Arch Intern Med . 1995;155:271-276.

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53 Kovacs L, Molnar BG, Huhn E, et al. Magnesium substitution in pregnancy. A prospective, randomized double-blind study [translated from German]. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd. 1988;48:595-600.

54 Peikert A, Wilimzig C, Kohne-Volland R. Prophylaxis of migraine with oral magnesium: results from a prospective, multi-center, placebo-controlled and double-blind randomized study. Cephalalgia . 1996;16:257-263.

55 Taubert K. Magnesium in migraine. Results of a multicenter pilot study [in German; English abstract]. Fortschr Med . 1994;112:328-330.

56 Facchinetti F, Sances G, Borella P, et al. Magnesium prophylaxis of menstrual migraine: effects on intracellular magnesium. Headache . 1991;31:298-301.

57 Pfaffenrath V, Wessely P, Meyer C, et al. Magnesium in the prophylaxis of migraine—a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Cephalalgia . 1996;16:436-440.

58 Gaby AR. Research Review. Nutr Healing. March 1997.

59 Attias J, Weisz G, Almog S, et al. Oral magnesium intake reduces permanent hearing loss induced by noise exposure. Am J Otolaryngol. 1994;15:26-32.

60 Li MK, Blacklock NJ, Garside J. Effects of magnesium on calcium oxalate crystallization. J Urol. 1985;133:123-125.

61 Parivar F, Low RK, Stoller ML. The influence of diet on urinary stone disease. J Urol. 1996;155:432-440.

62 Johansson G, Backman U, Danielson BG, et al. Biochemical and clinical effects of the prophylactic treatment of renal calcium stones with magnesium hydroxide. J Urol. 1980;124:770-774.

63 Ettinger B, Citron JT, Livermore B, et al. Chlorthalidone reduces calcium oxalate calculous recurrence but magnesium hydroxide does not. J Urol. 1988;139:679-684.

64 Sanjuliani AF, de Abreu Fagundes VG, Francischetti EA. Effects of magnesium on blood pressure and intracellular ion levels of Brazilian hypertensive patients. Int J Cardiol. 1996;56:177-183.

65 Witteman JC, Grobbee DE, Derkx FH, et al. Reduction of blood pressure with oral magnesium supplementation in women with mild to moderate hypertension. Am J Clin Nutr . 1994;60:129-135.

66 Dyckner T, Wester PO. Effect of magnesium on blood pressure. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) . 1983;286:1847-1849.

67 Henderson DG, Schierup J, Schodt T. Effect of magnesium supplementation on blood pressure and electrolyte concentrations in hypertensive patients receiving long term diuretic treatment. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) . 1986;293:664-665.

68 Shechter M, Sharir M, Labrador MJ, et al. Oral magnesium therapy improves endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease. Circulation . 2000;102:2353-2358.

69 Livingston JC, Livingston LW, Ramsey R, et al. Magnesium sulfate in women with mild preeclampsia: a randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol . 2003;101:217-220.

70 Seifert VB, Wagler P, Dartsch S, et al. Magnesium—a new therapeutic alternative in primary dysmenorrhea [translated from German]. Zentralbl Gynakol . 1989;111:755-760.

71 Fontana-Klaiber H, Hogg B. Therapeutic effects of magnesium in dysmenorrhea [in German; English abstract]. Schweiz Rundsch Med Prax . 1990;79:491-494.

72 Facchinetti F, Borella P, Sances G, et al. Oral magnesium successfully relieves premenstrual mood changes. Obstet Gynecol . 1991;78:177-181.

73 Wyatt KM, Dimmock PW, Jones PW, et al. Efficacy of vitamin B6 in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome: systematic review. BMJ . 1999;318:1375-1381.

74 Facchinetti F, Sances G, Borella P, et al. Magnesium prophylaxis of menstrual migraine: effects on intracellular magnesium. Headache . 1991;31:298-301.

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98 Rodriguez-Moran M, Guerrero-Romero F. Oral magnesium supplementation improves insulin sensitivity and metabolic control in type 2 diabetic subjects: a randomized double-blind controlled trial. Diabetes Care . 2003;26:1147-1152.

99 Lichodziejewska B, Klos J, Rezler J, et al. Clinical symptoms of mitral valve prolapse are related to hypomagnesemia and attenuated by magnesium supplementation. Am J Cardiol . 1997;79:768-772.

100 Walker AF, Marakis G, Christie S, et al. Mg citrate found more bioavailable than other Mg preparations in a randomised, double-blind study. Magnes Res . 2003;16:183-91.

101 Wang F, Van Den Eeden SK, Ackerson LM, et al. Oral magnesium oxide prophylaxis of frequent migrainous headache in children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Headache . 2003;43:601-10.

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