Magnesium citrate

Studies in people

• No harm found

  Blood pressure and artery stiffness²

  In people who were overweight, taking magnesium citrate for 24 weeks did not change blood pressure or artery stiffness.

• Open question

  Artery stiffness³

  In a planned study, magnesium citrate and two other magnesium forms will be tested for artery stiffness in overweight adults.

• Open question

  Artery stiffness in kidney disease⁴

  In people with kidney disease, magnesium citrate is being tested to see if it helps stiff arteries.

• Benefit

  Cholesterol and blood clotting⁵

  In healthy people, magnesium citrate did not lower cholesterol, but it and magnesium oxide both reduced platelet clumping.

• Benefit

  Night-time leg cramps⁶

  Magnesium citrate may cut how often night leg cramps strike, though scientists say more testing is needed.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.