Magnesium Dosage: How Much Should You Take per Day?
Magnesium is a mineral that you need to stay healthy.
It’s crucial for many functions in your body, including energy metabolism and protein synthesis. It also contributes to proper brain function, bone health, and heart and muscle activity (1Trusted Source).
Magnesium is found naturally in foods like nuts, leafy green vegetables, and milk products (2Trusted Source).
Supplementing with this vital nutrient has been linked to many benefits, including constipation relief and improved blood sugar regulation and sleep.
This article reviews different types of magnesium supplements and how to determine the best daily dosage for your needs.
Recommended daily amounts
Share on Pinterest
Magnesium is essential for maintaining proper health.
However, low magnesium intake is relatively common.
It’s primarily found in people who follow a typical Western diet, which contains processed foods and refined grains and can lack foods like leafy green vegetables and legumes, which provide magnesium and other important nutrients (3Trusted Source, 4Trusted Source).
The table below shows the recommended daily allowance (RDA) or adequate intake (AI) of magnesium for adults, infants, and children (2Trusted Source).
Types of magnesium supplements
Many forms of magnesium supplements are available.
The most important thing to consider before deciding on a supplement is its absorption rate, or how well the supplement is absorbed by your body.
Here are brief descriptions of the most common magnesium supplements.
Magnesium gluconate
Magnesium gluconate comes from the magnesium salt of gluconic acid. In rats, it has been shown to have the highest absorption rate among other types of magnesium supplements (8Trusted Source).
Magnesium oxide
Magnesium oxide has the highest amount of elemental, or actual, magnesium per weight. However, it’s poorly absorbed. Studies have found that magnesium oxide is essentially insoluble in water, making absorption rates low (9Trusted Source, 10Trusted Source).
Magnesium citrate
In magnesium citrate, magnesium in salt form is combined with citric acid. Magnesium citrate is absorbed relatively well by the body and has high solubility in water, meaning it mixes well with liquid (10Trusted Source).
Magnesium citrate is found in pill form and commonly used as a saline laxativebefore a colonoscopy or major surgery.
Magnesium chloride
Like magnesium gluconate and citrate, magnesium chloride has been observed to be well absorbed by the body (2Trusted Source).
It’s also available as an oil that can be applied topically, but further studies are needed to fully understand how well magnesium in this form is absorbed through the skin (11Trusted Source).
Magnesium hydroxide
Magnesium hydroxide, also known as milk of magnesia, is commonly used as a laxative to treat constipation and in some antacids to treat heartburn (2Trusted Source, 12Trusted Source).
Magnesium aspartate
Magnesium aspartate is another common magnesium supplement that is highly absorbable by the human body (13Trusted Source, 14Trusted Source).
Magnesium glycinate
Magnesium glycinate has been shown to have a relatively good absorption rate with less of a laxative effect.
This is likely because it’s absorbed in a different area of your intestine, compared with many other forms of magnesium supplements (15Trusted Source).
Summary
Many types of magnesium supplements are available. It’s important to consider the absorption rate of supplements before making a purchase.
Dosage for constipation
Whether you struggle with acute or chronic constipation, it can be uncomfortable.
Magnesium citrate and magnesium hydroxide are two magnesium compounds commonly used to promote bowel movements (16Trusted Source).
Magnesium hydroxide, or milk of magnesia, works as a laxative by pulling water into your intestines, which helps soften your stool and ease its passage.
The recommended dose depends on the product. Always follow the dosage instructions (17).
Exceeding the recommended intake could cause watery diarrhea or electrolyte imbalances.
Due to its laxative effect, milk of magnesia is generally used to treat acute constipation and not usually recommended for chronic cases.
Magnesium citrate is another magnesium supplement used to treat constipation.
It’s better absorbed and has a gentler laxative effect than magnesium hydroxide (18Trusted Source).
The standard dose for magnesium citrate is 240 ml per day, which can be mixed with water and taken orally.
Summary
Magnesium citrate and magnesium hydroxide are common magnesium compounds used to treat constipation. For best results, always follow standard dosage recommendations on the label.
Dosage for sleep
Adequate magnesium levels are important for a good night’s sleep. Magnesium can help your mind relax and your body achieve deep, restorative sleep.
In fact, studies in rats have shown that suboptimal magnesium levels led to poor sleep quality (19Trusted Source).
Currently, a limited number of studies have studied the effects of magnesium supplements on sleep quality, making it difficult to recommend a specific daily dose.
However, in one study, older adults who received 414 mg of magnesium oxide twice daily (500 mg of magnesium per day) had better sleep quality, compared with adults who received a placebo (20Trusted Source).
Summary
Based on limited research, taking 500 mg of magnesium daily may improve sleep quality.
Dosage for blood sugar regulation
People with diabetes may be more likely to have low magnesium levels (21Trusted Source, 22Trusted Source).
High blood sugar levels can increase magnesium loss through urine, causing low magnesium levels in your blood.
Studies have shown that magnesium supplements may help regulate blood sugar by managing insulin action (23Trusted Source).
Insulin is a hormone that helps control blood sugar levels by signaling your cells to take in sugar from your blood.
One study found that supplementing with 2,500 mg of magnesium in a magnesium chloride solution daily improved insulin sensitivity and fasting blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes and low magnesium levels at baseline (24Trusted Source).
However, another study found that people who received a daily total of 20.7 mmol of magnesium oxide daily showed no improvements in blood glucose regulation.
That said, those who received a higher dosage of magnesium oxide (41.4 mmol daily) showed a decrease in fructosamine, an average measurement of a person’s blood sugar over about 2–3 weeks (25Trusted Source).
The researchers concluded that prolonged magnesium supplementation at higher than usual doses could benefit blood glucose control, but further studies are needed (25Trusted Source).
Summary
Very high doses of 2,500 mg of magnesium supplements daily have been shown to improve blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes, but more research is needed.
Dosage for reducing muscle cramps
Many conditions can cause muscle cramps.
Since magnesium is key to muscle function, a deficiency may cause painful muscle contractions.
Magnesium supplements are often marketed to prevent or improve muscle cramping.
Though research on magnesium supplements for muscle cramping is mixed, one study found that participants who received 300 mg of magnesium daily for 6 weeks reported fewer muscle cramps, compared with those who received a placebo (26Trusted Source).
Another study noted the ability of magnesium supplements to reduce the frequency of leg cramps during pregnancy. Women who took 300 mg of magnesium daily experienced less frequent and less intense leg cramps, compared with women who took a placebo (27Trusted Source).
Summary
Although further research is needed on magnesium and muscle cramps, taking 300 mg of magnesium daily has been shown to decrease symptoms.
Dosage for depression
Studies have shown that magnesium deficiency may increase your risk of depression (28Trusted Source).
In fact, taking a magnesium supplement may improve depressive symptoms in some people.
One study found that taking 248 mg of magnesium chloride improved depressive symptoms in those with mild to moderate depression (29Trusted Source).
Moreover, another study found that taking 450 mg of magnesium chloride was as effective as an antidepressant at improving depressive symptoms (30Trusted Source).
While magnesium supplements may improve depression in those with magnesium deficiency, further research is needed to know if they can alleviate depression in those with normal magnesium levels.
Summary
Supplementing with 248–450 mg of magnesium per day has been shown to improve mood in patients with depression and low magnesium levels.
Dosage for enhancing exercise performance
Various studies on magnesium supplements’ effects on exercise performance have shown that the improvement potential is largely based on dosage.
For example, two studies that used doses of 126–250 mg of magnesium daily showed no significant change in exercise performance or muscle gain.
Researchers concluded that any benefits from supplementing with magnesium at these doses were not strong enough to be detected (31Trusted Source, 32Trusted Source).
However, another study found that volleyball players who took 350 mg of magnesium per day showed improved athletic performance, compared with the control group (33Trusted Source).
Summary
Supplementing with magnesium at doses of 350 mg or higher per day may boost exercise performance.
Dosage for improving PMS symptoms
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a group of symptoms, including water retention, agitation, and headaches, that many women experience about 1–2 weeks before their period.
Supplementing with magnesium has been shown to improve PMS symptoms.
One study found that taking 200 mg of magnesium oxide daily improved water retention associated with PMS (34Trusted Source).
Another study determined that taking 360 mg of magnesium daily improved PMS symptoms associated with mood and mood changes (35Trusted Source).
Summary
Magnesium doses of 200–360 mg daily have been shown to improve PMS symptoms in women, including mood and water retention.
Dosage for migraines
People who experience migraines may be at risk of magnesium deficiency due to several factors, including a genetic inability to absorb magnesium efficiently or increased excretion of magnesium due to stress (36Trusted Source).
One study found that supplementing with 600 mg of magnesium citrate helped reduce the frequency and severity of migraines (37Trusted Source).
Another study showed that the same dose daily tended to decrease the frequency of migraine attacks (38Trusted Source).
Summary
Supplementing with 600 mg of magnesium daily has been shown to prevent and possibly decrease the intensity and duration of migraines.
Possible side effects, concerns and warnings
The National Academy of Medicine recommends not exceeding 350 mg of supplemental magnesium per day (2Trusted Source).
However, several studies have involved higher daily dosages.
It’s recommended to only take a daily magnesium supplement that provides more than 350 mg while under medical supervision.
Though magnesium toxicity is rare, taking certain magnesium supplements at high doses may cause diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal cramping.
Magnesium supplements may also interact with some medications, including antibiotics and diuretics (2Trusted Source).
Summary
Magnesium toxicity is rare, but be sure to speak with your healthcare provider before beginning to supplement with more than 350 mg daily.
The bottom line
Magnesium is involved in more than 300 biochemical reactions in your body and crucial for maintaining good health.
The RDA for magnesium is 310–420 mg for adults depending on age and gender.
If you require a supplement, dosage recommendations can vary depending on your needs, such as to improve constipation, sleep, muscle cramps, or depression.
Most studies found positive effects with daily doses of 125–2,500 mg.
However, it’s best to consult your healthcare provider before taking a supplement, especially at higher doses.
