Magnesium citrate and arterial stiffness in a 24-week trial
What it found
In people who were overweight or slightly obese, magnesium citrate taken for 24 weeks did not change arterial stiffness or blood pressure compared with placebo.
Magnesium oxide and magnesium sulfate showed similar results.
What they found
Studies in people
Arterial stiffness
Magnesium citrate did not change carotid-to-femoral pulse wave velocity, a measure of arterial stiffness, compared with placebo at 24 weeks. The other magnesium forms also had no effect.
Blood pressure
Magnesium citrate did not affect blood pressure compared with placebo at 24 weeks. The other formulations also had no effect.
Magnesium levels
Magnesium citrate raised plasma magnesium by 0.04 mmol/L and urine magnesium by 3.12 mmol/24 h compared with placebo. The effects on plasma magnesium were similar among all magnesium groups.
Urine magnesium
Magnesium citrate caused a larger increase in 24-hour urinary magnesium excretion than magnesium oxide or magnesium sulfate.
Side effects
One serious adverse event was reported, which was considered unrelated to the study treatment.
What the authors conclude
“Oral magnesium citrate supplementation for 24 weeks did not significantly change arterial stiffness or blood pressure.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that oral magnesium citrate supplementation for 24 weeks did not significantly change arterial stiffness or blood pressure.
- They note that magnesium oxide and magnesium sulfate had similar nonsignificant effects.
How it was done
Magnesium supplements may have beneficial effects on arterial stiffness, but no head-to-head comparison between different magnesium formulations had been done.
164 people who were overweight and slightly obese, with an average age of 63.2 years, took either magnesium citrate, magnesium oxide, magnesium sulfate, or a placebo for 24 weeks. The total daily dose of magnesium was 450 mg.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This trial tested magnesium citrate at a dose of 450 mg daily for 24 weeks in people who were overweight or slightly obese. It cannot show whether other doses, longer use, or different groups of people would have different results.
The paper
- Title
- Effects of Magnesium Citrate, Magnesium Oxide, and Magnesium Sulfate Supplementation on Arterial Stiffness: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Intervention Trial
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Schutten JC, Joris PJ, Groendijk I, et al (2022). Effects of Magnesium Citrate, Magnesium Oxide, and Magnesium Sulfate Supplementation on Arterial Stiffness: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Intervention Trial. Journal of the American Heart Association. doi:10.1161/JAHA.121.021783Free full textPubMed 35253448DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error