Magnesium Citrate

Magnesium Citrate

Best for

Build key mineral stores

Likely strong benefit for 4–26 weeks · 4 studies , n=228

10 papers · 3 claims · 46 outcomes scored · 1 positive

Outcomes

What magnesium citrate actually does, by outcome

Each row is one outcome with effect size, evidence base, the dose that worked in trials, and time to first effect. Magnitude tiers come from native-unit MCID where available, Cohen's d otherwise.

Outcome Effect Evidence Dose Weeks Rank
Build key mineral stores Likely strong benefit
large
4 RCTs n=228 40–450 other 4–26 wk #1/5
Ease nighttime leg cramps Probably doesn't help
trivial
1 RCT n=132 300 mg 4 wk #1/2
Improve overall sleep quality Not enough research
1 meta-analysis n=— Meta-analyzed 320 mg 8 wk
Buy well

Recommended Magnesium Citrate products

Real products that dose Magnesium Citrate where the research does, in a clean formulation, from brands we've audited. We only list ones we'd stand behind.

Chosen for adequate Magnesium Citrate dosing vs. the studied range, a clean formulation (grade A–C), and independent brand-quality audits. Not sponsored.

Risk profile

Adverse events and known drug interactions

Safety events

stroke severe
hypomagnesemia severe
generalized tonic-clonic seizure severe
flatulence mild
abdominal pain mild
headache mild
minor adverse events (mostly diarrhoea and nausea) mild
gastrointestinal complaints (diarrhea, mild GI upset) mild

Sources

  1. 1. Effects of Potassium Magnesium Citrate Supplementation on 24-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure and Oxidative Stress Marker in Prehypertensive and Hypertensive Subjects. (2016)
  2. 2. Effects of long-term magnesium supplementation on endothelial function and cardiometabolic risk markers: A randomized controlled trial in overweight/obese adults. (2017)
  3. 3. Clinical trial on the effects of oral magnesium supplementation in stable-phase COPD patients. (2022)
  4. 4. Effects of Magnesium Citrate, Magnesium Oxide, and Magnesium Sulfate Supplementation on Arterial Stiffness: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Intervention Trial. (2022)
  5. 5. Oral magnesium supplementation for insomnia in older adults: a Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis. (2021)
  6. 6. Oral magnesium supplementation for leg cramps in pregnancy-An observational controlled trial. (2020)
  7. 7. The effect of acute vs chronic magnesium supplementation on exercise and recovery on resistance exercise, blood pressure and total peripheral resistance on normotensive adults. (2015)
  8. 8. The BRAzil MAGnesium (BRAMAG) trial: a randomized clinical trial of oral magnesium supplementation in pregnancy for the prevention of preterm birth and perinatal and maternal morbidity. (2014)
  9. 9. Investigation of Laboratory and Clinical Features of Primary Dysmenorrhea: Comparison of Magnesium and Oral Contraceptives in Treatment. (2022)
  10. 10. Magnesium supplementation and preeclampsia in low-income pregnant women - a randomized double-blind clinical trial. (2020)

Generated August 14, 2026

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