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Mg8.5
Magnesium Research
Probably helpsHigh safety
42 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Probably helps
Magnesium helped in about half (9/13) of the studies that measured an effect — promising, but not unanimous.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 2010–2026 with a typical study size of 408 participants.
Based on 42 studies · 19 meta-analyses · 14 RCTs · 36,464 total participants
Confidence
High
What the studies found
9helped3unclear1didn't help· 29 more without graded effect data
By outcome
Heart & blood pressureImproved blood pressure and vascular health within 4-8 weeks · 4-8 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational11 studies
Therapeutic & clinical
Mostly mechanism / observational9 studies
Glucose & metabolicImproved insulin sensitivity in deficient individuals · 4-8 weeks · Modestly improves insulin sensitivity, especially when deficient · 4-12 weeks
Bone health & women's healthSupports healthy estrogen metabolism and hormonal equilibrium · 4-8 weeks · May help reduce menstrual discomfort and PMS symptoms · 1-3 cycles · Provides essential nutrients for healthy pregnancy · Ongoing
Mostly mechanism / observational6 studies
Depression & moodMeta-analyses show significant improvement in depression and mood scores · 2-4 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational4 studies
Safety profile
Mostly mechanism / observational4 studies
Anxiety & stressReduced anxiety and stress response · 1-2 weeks · Blunting of stress reactivity and cortisol regulation · 2-4 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational3 studies
Cognitive function
Mostly mechanism / observational3 studies
Muscle cramps & function
Too few graded studies2 studies
By the numbers
Pulled from 35 studies with measurable effects
Likely real effects
86%
across studies
People studied
36k
typical study: 408 people
Strongest designs
33
19 pooled, 14 randomised
Showed benefit
69%
9/13 studies
How long studies ran
1–4 weeks
2
1–3 months
1
3+ months
2
Populations Studied
Adults3
Pregnant women2
Type 2 diabetes patients1
Diverse patient groups1
Active research area
34 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2026
201020182026
1Magnesium levelsMeta-Analysisn=1,100 · large study2026
This systematic review and meta-analysis conclude that magnesium levels are significantly lower in patients with diabetic retinopathy than in diabetic controls without retinopathy.
Kubbara EA et al. · Nutrients (2026)
Huge benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
The random-effects model indicated significantly lower magnesium levels in patients with diabetic retinopathy compared to diabetic controls [SMD = -1.19, 95% CI (-1.68; -0.70); p < 0.0001; I2 = 95%].
Meta-regression analysis revealed that year of publication (coefficient = 0.061; p = 0.009) and non-Asian studies (coefficient = 2.376; p = 0.001) were positively associated with the pooled effect size, while the NOS quality score was inversely associated (coefficient = -0.709; p = 0.035).
The magnesium levels were significantly lower in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy compared with those with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy using a fixed effect model [SMD = -1.41, (95% CI: -1.83; -1.00); p < 0.01; I2 = 32%; Cochran's Q statistic (Q = 1.46, p < 0.23)].
6Hospitalisation during pregnancyMeta-AnalysisCited 96×n=9,090 · very large study2014
There is not enough high-quality evidence to show that dietary magnesium supplementation during pregnancy is beneficial.
Makrides M et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2014)
Large benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
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.
There is not enough high-quality evidence to show that dietary magnesium supplementation during pregnancy is beneficial.
7PCOS biomarkersMeta-AnalysisCited 20×n=504 · large study2022
This meta-analysis examined the effects of Magnesium.
Heidari H et al. · Scientific reports (2022)
No significant effect was found on HDL-c, glycemic indices, hormonal profile, anthropometric measurements, and other biomarkers of inflammation or oxidative stress.
This meta-analysis highlights the potential anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties of vitamin E supplementation alone or in combination with omega-3 or magnesium on PCOS patients.
Moreover, our work indicates that Mg supplementation may improve insulin-sensitivity parameters in those at high risk of diabetes.
Veronese N et al. · Nutrients (2021)
Data were reported as standardized mean differences (SMDs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using follow-up data of glucose and insulin-sensitivity parameters.
In people at high risk of diabetes, Mg supplementation significantly improved plasma glucose per se, and after a 2 h oral glucose tolerance test.
Furthermore, Mg supplementation demonstrated an improvement in insulin sensitivity markers.
10Lung cancer riskMeta-AnalysisCited 10×n=707 · large study2018
Our study suggested that serum magnesium levels had no significant association on lung cancer risk.
Song X et al. · World journal of surgical oncology (2018)
No clear effect
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Serum magnesium levels were not significantly lower in patients with lung cancer [summary SMD = 0.193, 95%CI = - 1.504 to 1.890] when compared to health controls, with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 99.6%, P < 0.001) found.
Negative associations were found among Asian populations [summary SMD = 0.229, 95%CI = - 1.637 to 2.094] and European populations [summary SMD = - 0.168, 95%CI = - 0.482 to 0.147].
Our study suggested that serum magnesium levels had no significant association on lung cancer risk.
12Micronutrient levels in diabetic foot ulcerMeta-AnalysisCited 16×2023
This review provides evidence that micronutrient levels significantly differ in DFU patients, suggesting an association between micronutrient status and risk of DFU.
Kurian SJ et al. · Frontiers in endocrinology (2023)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
DFU, compared to healthy controls (HC) had significantly lower vitamin D (MD: -10.82 14 ng/ml, 95% CI: -20.47, -1.16), magnesium (MD: -0.45 mg/dL, 95% CI: -0.78, -0.12) and selenium (MD: -0.33 µmol/L, 95% CI: -0.34, -0.32) levels.
DFU, compared to DM patients without DFU, had significantly lower vitamin D (MD: -5.41 ng/ml, 95% CI: -8.06, -2.76), and magnesium (MD: -0.20 mg/dL, 95% CI: -0.25, -0.15) levels.
The overall analysis showed lower levels of vitamin D [15.55ng/ml (95% CI:13.44, 17.65)], vitamin C [4.99µmol/L (95% CI:3.16, 6.83)], magnesium [1.53mg/dL (95% CI:1.28, 1.78)] and selenium [0.54µmol/L (95% CI:0.45, 0.64)].
Both supplements demonstrated greater reductions in SBP for the general population at lower dosages and longer treatment durations.
Behers BJ et al. · Nutrients (2024)
Both supplements demonstrated greater reductions in SBP for the general population at lower dosages and longer treatment durations.
Future studies are needed to validate these findings and provide tailored recommendations.
These studies could investigate varying dosages over long-term follow-up to provide robust data on optimal dosages and treatment durations, as our findings were limited due to reliance on previously published trials.
14Skeletal muscle cramp prophylaxisMeta-AnalysisCited 46×n=408 · medium study2020
It is unlikely that magnesium supplementation provides clinically meaningful cramp prophylaxis to older adults experiencing skeletal muscle cramps.
Garrison SR et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2020)
No clear effect
← WorseNo effectBetter →
The percentage of individuals experiencing a 25% or better reduction in cramp rate from baseline was also no different (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.29; 3 studies, 177 participants; high-certainty evidence).
Similarly, no statistically significant difference was found at four weeks in measures of cramp intensity or cramp duration.
The single study comparing magnesium to no treatment failed to find statistically significant benefit on a three-point ordinal scale of overall treatment efficacy.
Future cohort studies should evaluate various Mg biomarkers and collect repeated measurements of Mg intake over time, considering different sources (diet or supplements) and factors affecting absor...
Chen F et al. · Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) (2024)
Future cohort studies should evaluate various Mg biomarkers and collect repeated measurements of Mg intake over time, considering different sources (diet or supplements) and factors affecting absorption (for example, calcium-to-Mg intake ratio).
This systematic review was preregistered in PROSPERO (CRD42023423663).
16Muscle fitness measuresMeta-AnalysisCited 30×n=215 · medium study2017
But Mg supplementation may benefit individuals with Mg deficiency, such as the elderly and alcoholics.
Wang R et al. · Magnesium research (2017)
Measurements of the association were pooled using a fixed-effects model and expressed as weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).
The beneficial effects of Mg supplementation appeared to be more pronounced in the elderly and alcoholics, but were not apparent in athletes and physically active individuals.
17Magnesium levels in malaria patients vs controlsMeta-Analysisn=13 · very small study2024
This meta-analysis examined the effects of Magnesium.
Kotepui KU et al. · Scientific reports (2024)
Huge benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
The effect sizes from individual studies were pooled using the random-effects model.
The meta-analysis indicated elevated magnesium levels in malaria patients compared with uninfected controls (P < 0.01, Hedges' g: 1.94, 95% CI 0.86-3.03, I2: 98.38%, 9 studies).
No statistically significant difference was observed in magnesium levels between patients with severe and nonsevere malaria (P: 0.34, Hedges' g: 0.62, 95% CI - 0.64-1.88, I2: 91.46%, 2 studies).
18Hip bone mineral densityMeta-AnalysisCited 63×2022
This systematic review indicates that a higher magnesium intake may support an increase in hip and femoral neck BMD.
Groenendijk I et al. · Bone (2022)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Borderline
Meta-analysis of four studies showed a significant positive association between magnesium intake and hip BMD (pooled beta: 0.03, 95% CI: 0.01-0.06, p < 0.05).
This systematic review indicates that a higher magnesium intake may support an increase in hip and femoral neck BMD.
Due to limited research no associations with BMD at other sites or fractures were found.
19Serum magnesium levels in ADHD vs healthy controlsMeta-AnalysisCited 27×2019
The random-effects meta-analysis showed that subjects with ADHD had 0.105 mmol/l (95% CI: -0.188, -0.022; P < 0.013) lower serum magnesium levels compared with to their healthy controls.
Effatpanah M et al. · Psychiatry research (2019)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
The random-effects meta-analysis showed that subjects with ADHD had 0.105 mmol/l (95% CI: -0.188, -0.022; P < 0.013) lower serum magnesium levels compared with to their healthy controls.
Moreover, we observed striking and statistically significant heterogeneity among the included studies (I2 = 96.2%, P = 0.0103).
The evidence from this meta-analysis supports the theory that an inverse relationship between serum magnesium deficiency and ADHD exists.
Findings should be considered exploratory and hypothesis-generating.
Baran JM et al. · International journal of molecular sciences (2026)
Interventional studies reported modest improvements following zinc or combined magnesium and zinc supplementation, although not in CAD-specific populations.
Evidence directly addressing trace elements and depression in CAD is extremely limited and largely indirect.
Current data do not support causal inference or clinical recommendations.