If you're looking to address constipation, magnesium citrate might be your best choice. If you're seeking relaxation and improved sleep, magnesium glycinate may be the better option.
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.
For use as an everyday sleep aid or for motility, around 300-360 milligrams before bed is an ideal maintenance dose.
Magnesium Oxide – A less-easily absorbed form that is commonly found in medications to treat migraines, constipation and indigestion. Magnesium Sulfate – Found in Epsom salt and absorbed through the skin, this can be some of the best magnesium powder for sleep, as well as easing aches and pains.
However, some evidence shows that otherwise healthy people may benefit from low doses of oral magnesium supplements to help improve symptoms of insomnia. Research suggests doses of up to one gram of magnesium should be taken no more than three times daily.
Magnesium is an essential mineral that plays a role in over 300 biochemical processes in the body, including those linked to sleep. 1 Some research suggests that certain types of magnesium, including magnesium glycinate and magnesium L-threonate , may improve sleep quality and duration.
Generally speaking, you will find that magnesium supplements start to work after one week of using them. After one week of regular magnesium supplementation, individuals may experience benefits such as improved energy levels, reduced muscle cramps, better sleep quality, and reduced anxiety.
The good news is that some studies (study links, a and b) have identified how magnesium may ease certain symptoms of stress and anxiety. Here are the facts: Magnesium may help to control the chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) in the brain, resulting in a calming effect on the body.
The best way to use magnesium for getting quality sleep is to take it 30 minutes before bedtime. You should take the recommended dose of 300 to 400 milligrams of magnesium daily to get quality sleep. Taking the recommended dose of magnesium regularly may improve your sleep quality by helping your mind and body relax.
Magnesium Glycinate is a popular sleep aid that may offer numerous benefits for individuals who have trouble falling or staying asleep. Studies have shown that Magnesium Glycinate can improve sleep quality, reduce anxiety, and help manage other health conditions.
Magnesium glycinate can help with this type of insomnia as well by regulating Gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA is a neurotransmitter that essentially puts your brain into “sleep mode” at night. It quiets communication, powering systems down and easing you into sleep.
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.
The time of day doesn't matter so much—it's the consistency of taking magnesium daily that matters most. While some recommend taking magnesium supplements right before bed (to calm your mind and nervous system, setting the stage for sleep), do what works best for you to ensure that it becomes a daily healthy habit.
How long does it take for magnesium to work for sleep? The benefits of magnesium are often associated with long-term use, so it's important to take your supplement consistently. We recommend daily use for at least three months to see the full effects on sleep.
So, get enough vitamin D—just take it in the morning or afternoon. At night, take supplements that support sleep quality and muscle relaxation, like magnesium and melatonin (which you'll find in soothing, sippable Bulletproof Sleep Collagen Protein).
Some people experience stomach cramping after taking too much magnesium (around 600 mg a day). This high dosage, especially supplements with large doses of magnesium oxide, can cause a laxative effect, ironically keeping you up at night, rather than providing the sleep-inducing benefits it's well-known for.
Symptoms of magnesium toxicity, which usually develop after serum concentrations exceed 1.74–2.61 mmol/L, can include hypotension, nausea, vomiting, facial flushing, retention of urine, ileus, depression, and lethargy before progressing to muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, extreme hypotension, irregular heartbeat, ...
Magnesium may also reduce the absorption of medications such as blood thinners, anti-diabetes drugs, diuretics, and drugs used to treat the brittle bone disease osteoporosis, Cooperman says. “Check with your doctor if you're considering using magnesium,” he says.
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.
While there are many forms of magnesium available, we often prefer to use magnesium citrate and/or magnesium glycinate. 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.