Magnesium citrate and magnesium oxide compared in 41 healthy people
What it found
In 41 healthy people, magnesium citrate did not raise magnesium levels inside cells as much as magnesium oxide.
Both forms reduced the clumping of blood cells triggered by adrenaline.
What they found
Studies in people
Magnesium inside cells
Magnesium oxide raised magnesium levels inside cells more than magnesium citrate did. The researchers measured this using cells taken from under the tongue.
Cholesterol levels
Magnesium oxide lowered total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Magnesium citrate made no clear difference to these measures.
Blood cell clumping
Both forms reduced the clumping of blood platelets when triggered by adrenaline. The drop was similar for both treatments.
What the authors conclude
- They found that magnesium oxide improved magnesium levels inside cells and cholesterol more than magnesium citrate did.
- They note that both forms worked equally well at reducing platelet clumping in healthy people without obvious heart disease.
How it was done
The amount of magnesium in Western diets is falling over time. Low magnesium in the blood is linked to higher rates of diabetes, metabolic problems and heart disease deaths.
Forty-one healthy volunteers, including 20 women with an average age of 53, took part. They received either magnesium oxide or magnesium citrate tablets daily for one month. After a four-week break they switched to the other form for another month.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This trial lasted only one month per treatment, so longer-term effects are unknown.
- It involved healthy people without apparent heart disease, so results may differ for people who are unwell.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Leviev Heart Center, Israel
The paper
- Title
- Comparison of magnesium status using X-ray dispersion analysis following magnesium oxide and magnesium citrate treatment of healthy subjects
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Shechter M, Saad T, Shechter A, Koren-Morag N, Silver BB, Matetzky S (2012). Comparison of magnesium status using X-ray dispersion analysis following magnesium oxide and magnesium citrate treatment of healthy subjects. Magnesium research. doi:10.1684/mrh.2012.0305PubMed 22433473DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error