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Head-to-head evidence comparison — which supplement is right for you?
Magnesium wins 3 of 3 categories. Both are solid choices — the best pick depends on your specific goals.
Verdict
Likely helps
13 of 17 studies with measurable effects showed benefit.
Top outcomes
Verdict
Mostly mechanism / observational
1 of 1 studies with measurable effects showed benefit.
Top outcomes
200-350mg elemental magnesium daily
Evening for sleep/relaxation (glycinate), Morning for energy (malate), Anytime (citrate)
Depends on goal - see notes
300-600mg extract
30-60 minutes before bed
Standardized extract capsules
1-2 weeks
1-2 weeks
1 week
Immediate
2-4 weeks
2-4 weeks
Next morning
Immediate
Magnesium supplementation in pregnancy
The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2014) · Meta analysis · n=9090
Women receiving magnesium were significantly less likely to require hospitalisation during pregnancy (RR 0.65, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.86; three trials, 1158 women).Of the 10 trials included in the review, only two were judged to be of high quality overall.
Magnesium Supplementation and Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Hypertension (2025) · Meta analysis · n=2709
38 RCTs with 2709 participants analyzed
Magnesium and Potassium Supplementation for Systolic Blood Pressure Reduction in the General Normotensive Population: A Systematic Review and Subgroup Meta-Analysis for Optimal Dosage and Treatment Length
Nutrients (2024) · Meta analysis
Both supplements demonstrated greater reductions in SBP for the general population at lower dosages and longer treatment durations.
Valerian Root in Treating Sleep Problems and Associated Disorders-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine (2020) · Meta analysis · n=6894
In addition, therapeutic benefits could be optimized when it was combined with appropriate herbal partners.
Fixed herbal drug combination with and without butterbur (Ze 185) for the treatment of patients with somatoform disorders: randomized, placebo-controlled pharmaco-clinical trial
Phytotherapy research : PTR (2009) · Rct · n=182
Analysis of the ITT population confirmed these results.
Herbal Medicines in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Therapeutic Potential, Plant Components, and Dosage Guidelines
Alternative therapies in health and medicine (2025) · Systematic review
Passionflower and Valerian Root alleviate anxiety and hyperactivity through GABAergic pathways.
Based on meta-analysis of 38 RCTs with 2709 participants showing -7.68 mmHg reduction in hypertensive individuals. Effects are greatest in those with hypomagnesemia. Limited evidence in normotensive populations.
Based on meta-analysis (n=1602) showing statistically significant improvement in subjective sleep quality but no improvement in objective polysomnography measures. Effect magnitude is conservative given mixed objective evidence.
AI-estimated from published studies. Interpret as directional guidance.
Magnesium has a higher evidence score (8.5/10 vs 5.5/10) and wins in 3 of 3 categories.
For improve deep sleep quality, Magnesium has a higher relevance score (90 vs 75).
No known interactions between Magnesium and Valerian Root have been documented in our database. However, always consult a healthcare provider before combining supplements.