Magnesium citrate and magnesium oxide compared in healthy people
What it found
In 41 healthy volunteers, magnesium oxide raised magnesium inside cells and lowered total and LDL cholesterol more than magnesium citrate did.
Both forms reduced platelet clumping triggered by adrenaline.
What they found
Studies in people
Magnesium inside cells
Magnesium oxide raised magnesium inside cells from 34.4 to 36.3 mEq/L, while magnesium citrate raised it from 34.7 to 35.4 mEq/L. The authors report the oxide change as significant and the citrate change as not significant.
Total cholesterol
Magnesium oxide lowered total cholesterol from 201 to 186 mg/dL. Magnesium citrate left it unchanged at 187 mg/dL.
LDL cholesterol
Magnesium oxide lowered LDL cholesterol from 128 to 120 mg/dL. Magnesium citrate left it about the same, moving from 120 to 121 mg/dL.
Platelet clumping
Both treatments reduced adrenaline-triggered platelet clumping. With magnesium oxide it fell from 78.9% to 71.7%, and with magnesium citrate from 81.3% to 73.3%.
What the authors conclude
“Thus, oral magnesium oxide treatment significantly improved [Mg2+]i, total and LDL cholesterol compared with magnesium citrate, while both treatments similarly inhibited platelet aggregation in healthy subjects with no apparent heart disease.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that oral magnesium oxide treatment significantly improved intracellular magnesium, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol compared with magnesium citrate.
- They report that both treatments similarly inhibited platelet aggregation in healthy subjects with no apparent heart disease.
How it was done
Magnesium in Western diets is steadily falling, and low magnesium levels are linked to higher rates of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and heart and artery disease deaths.
41 healthy volunteers (20 women, average age 53, range 31 to 75) with no apparent heart disease took magnesium oxide tablets (520 mg/day of elemental magnesium) or magnesium citrate tablets (295.8 mg/day of elemental magnesium) for one month, then had a four-week wash-out, then switched to the other treatment for one month. The study was randomised, double-blind and crossover. Magnesium inside cells, blood magnesium, platelet clumping and quality of life were checked before and after each phase.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This trial was in 41 healthy people with no apparent heart disease, so the results may not apply to people with existing heart disease or other groups.
- It tested each treatment for only one month, so it cannot show what happens over longer periods.
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 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error