Based on current data, magnesium taurate and glycinate have the most research supporting their effects on anxiety and other mental health disorders. Magnesium malate and threonine have also demonstrated therapeutic effects and may be useful in many psychiatric cases.
Foods high in magnesium
If you take magnesium as a supplement, studies that showed that magnesium can have anti-anxiety effects generally used dosages of between 75 and 360 mg a day, according to the 2017 review.
Magnesium is an essential mineral that is involved in various aspects of physical and mental health. Recent research has found that consuming sufficient amounts of magnesium may help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.
Magnesium glycinate is easily absorbed and may have calming properties. It may help reduce anxiety, depression, stress, and insomnia. Yet, scientific evidence on these uses is limited, so more studies are needed ( 8 ). Magnesium glycinate is often used for its calming effects to treat anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
Excess levels of the primary stress hormone cortisol contribute to anxiety, brain fog, depression, mood swings, memory loss, dementia, concentration problems, insomnia, and mental disorders of all kinds. Magnesium restricts the release of stress hormones and acts as a filter to prevent them from entering the brain.
Therefore, magnesium supplements can be taken at any time of the day, as long as you're able to take them consistently. For some, taking supplements first thing in the morning may be easiest, while others may find that taking them with dinner or just before bed works well for them.
Taking large or frequent doses of dietary magnesium supplements, including magnesium glycinate, can cause adverse effects, including diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps. Extremely high intakes of magnesium can lead to an irregular heartbeat and potentially a cardiac arrest, which can be dangerous.
Notably, magnesium reduces epinephrine and nor- epinephrine synthesis and release, decreases anxiety and could prevent the panic attacks. Magnesium deficiency, even when mild, increases susceptibility to various types of neurologic and psychological stressors in healthy human subjects and diverse groups of patients.
Magnesium glycinate/glycerophosphate - best for sleep and anxiety. Magnesium glycerophosphate is ideal for stress relief and sleep. Glycerophosphate has the lowest rate of diarrhea, as compared to other forms of magnesium.
B-complex, vitamin E, vitamin C, GABA, and 5-HTP are 5 vitamins commonly used to help with anxiety and stress.
Magnesium glycinate -- Magnesium glycinate (magnesium bound with glycine, a non-essential amino acid) is one of the most bioavailable and absorbable forms of magnesium, and also the least likely to induce diarrhea. It is the safest option for correcting a long-term deficiency.
Magnesium begins to take effect after one week of consistent supplementation.
Magnesium citrate is a more common choice if you want to maintain magnesium levels for general whole-body health. On the other hand, magnesium glycinate has less bioavailability but can have a calming effect.
Magnesium supplements should be taken with meals. Taking magnesium supplements on an empty stomach may cause diarrhea.
The benefits of magnesium glycinate
promote bone health. manage blood sugar in people with diabetes and may lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. maintain normal heart rhythms. reduce symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
One study of older adults with insomnia found that magnesium supplementation at a dose of 500 milligrams daily for eight weeks helped them fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, reduced nighttime awakenings, and increased their levels of naturally circulating melatonin.
Magnesium citrate is most helpful for people suffering from constipation, while the glycinate form is more useful for conditions like anxiety, insomnia, chronic stress, and inflammatory conditions.
Magnesium supplementation has also been shown to attenuate the activity of the HPAA, including a reduction in central (ACTH; [15]) and peripheral (cortisol; [49]) endocrine responses of this system. Therefore, Mg may further influence anxiety states via the moderation of the stress response.
Low serum concentrations of vitamin B6 and iron are related to panic attack and hyperventilation attack.
Other research from 2017, appearing in the journal PLoS One , found that a 6-week course of magnesium chloride led to a significant reduction in depression and anxiety symptoms.
Magnesium Glycinate
Glycine is an essential amino acid that has important neurotransmitter functions in the brain. Glycine supplementation can improve the quality of sleep, making this form of magnesium a good choice for those with insomnia.
“Magnesium may help regulate neurotransmitters that are directly related to sleep,” Dr. Umeda says. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that transmit messages between nerve cells in your brain and body. (It's important to note that magnesium plays only a supporting role in their function.)