Can You Take A Magnesium Supplement Every Day? We Asked A Dietitian

Peek into any medicine cabinet, and there's a good chance you'll find at least one vitamin or supplement bottle. That wasn't the case a decade ago. According to recent industry statistics, household spending on nonprescription vitamins has nearly doubled since 2007—with mineral supplements such as calcium and magnesium leading the way.

First, a recap on why someone might want to take a magnesium supplement in the first place: Magnesium is a really important mineral.

If you're an avid mindbodygreen reader, you've probably heard us wax poetic about it before: It facilitates hundreds of chemical reactions in the body, helping to regulate blood sugar, blood pressure, muscle and nerve function, protein building, and more, registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Amy Kimberlain, RDN, CDCES, explains.* "Additionally," she says, "magnesium plays a vital role in helping maintain a healthy heart and healthy bones."*

When we eat whole foods that contain magnesium (plants need the mineral to grow, too, so leafy greens tend to be high in it), about half of it is stored in bones, and the rest goes to other body tissues or is excreted by the kidneys. In addition to greens, beans, nuts, seeds, and whole grains are also good food sources of magnesium. Kimberlain explains that if a food is high in dietary fiber, chances are it contains magnesium, too.

Even though a number of healthy foods are high in magnesium, nationally representative research estimates that nearly half of Americans don't get enough of it through diet alone. On an episode of the mbg podcast, immunologist Heather Moday, MD, said that magnesium is one of the most common deficiencies1 she sees with patients.

This is likely due in part to the rise in processed, nutrient-poor food. But even for those who eat a mostly unprocessed diet, industrial farming practices are increasingly stripping soil—and in turn, crops—of essential nutrients like magnesium. Magnesium levels also tend to decline with age, and there are racial and gender disparities2 in intake as well.

If you are getting your magnesium exclusively from food sources, you don't really need to worry about overdoing it. But when taking the mineral in supplement form, Kimberlain says that it's important to stay below what's known as the Tolerable Upper Limit. "The Tolerable Upper Limit is the maximum daily intake that would be unlikely to cause any harmful effects on health," she explains. For magnesium, that's 350 mg for adults.

In doses lower than 350 mg, then, magnesium supplements should be safe to take daily. It totally depends on the individual, but doses above that could lead to uncomfortable side effects; mostly loose stools, but some people also experience nausea and cramping.

Where this rule of thumb gets slightly confusing is that magnesium, when taken on its own, can be difficult for us to absorb. To make it easier for the body to distribute, it's often paired with another organic compound that's more palatable. This is why there are so many different types of magnesium supplements available—each one matches the mineral with a unique partner.

"Because there are so many forms, the amount that you absorb from the supplement will vary," Kimberlain says. "Some magnesium supplements will dissolve in liquid and therefore absorb better in the gut than ones that are less soluble."

If you're consuming any magnesium supplement daily, taking it on a regular schedule is wise.

To maximize absorption potential and since different forms of magnesium can act differently in the body, they should be taken at different times. For example, research has found that magnesium supplementation3 can enhance sleep quality.* mbg's sleep support+ supplement combines magnesium with the highly bioavailable amino acid glycine and is designed to help promote deeper, more restorative sleep.* It has 120 mg magnesium per serving and is best taken 1-2 hours before bed.

If you're taking a higher dose that is less bioavailable, though, consuming the supplement earlier in the day with a meal would help lessen the chance of uncomfortable side effects.