Product Reviews

Magnesium and Calcium-Magnesium Supplements Review

Initial Posting: 6/3/17 Last Update: 7/29/18

Magnesium Supplements Reviewed By ConsumerLab.com

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Tests and Reviews of 40+ Popular Magnesium Supplements & CL's Top Picks

Magnesium supplements compared in this review

AdvoCare Calcium Plus	KAL Magnesium Glycinate	Puritan's Pride Chelated Calcium Magnesium Zinc
AlgaeCal Plus	Kirkland Signature [Costco] Calcium Citrate Magnesium And Zinc	Puritan's Pride High Potency Magnesium 500 mg
Bluebonnet EarthSweet Chewables Calcium Magnesium & D3	Life Extension Magnesium Caps	ReMag Magnesium Solution
Caltrate 600 + D3	MAGINEX Advanced Magnesium	Rexall Magnesium
ChildLife Liquid Calcium With Magnesium	Mag-Tab SR	Solgar Magnesium Citrate
Country Life Chelated Magnesium	Metagenics CalApatite Bone Builder With Magnesium	Spring Valley [Walmart] Magnesium Citrate
Country Life Target-Mins Calcium Magnesium	Natural Factors Magnesium Oxide	Sundown Naturals Calcium Magnesium and Zinc
Doctor's Best High Absorption 100% Chelated Magnesium	Natural Vitality Natural Calm	Sundown Naturals® Magnesium
Douglas Laboratories Magnesium Taurate	Nature's Bounty Calcium Magnesium Zinc	Swanson Liquid Calcium & Magnesium
Dr. Mercola Magnesium L-Threonate	Nature's Bounty Magnesium	Trace Minerals Research Magnesium
Finest Nutrition [Walgreens] Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc	Nature's Life Magnesium Malate	TwinLab Magnesium Caps
Finest Nutrition [Walgreens] Magnesium	Nature's Plus Animal Parade® Mag Kidz	USANA® MagneCal
Finest Nutrition [Walgreens] Magnesium 400 mg	Nature's Way Alive Calcium Bone Formula	Vitacost® Magnesium Citrate
Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Magnesium Relax & Restore	NOW Magnesium Caps	Vital Nutrients Triple Mag
GNC Magnesium 500	NutriCology Magnesium Chloride Liquid	Vitamin World Calcium Magnesium Zinc
Jarrow Formulas Bone-Up	Piping Rock.com Magnesium Chloride	Vitamin World® High Potency® Magnesium
Jarrow Formulas Magnesium Optimizer	Pure Encapsulations OsteoBalance	Wellesse Calcium & Vitamin D3
Jigsaw MagSRT

Bluebonnet EarthSweet Chewables Calcium Magnesium & D3

Country Life Target-Mins Calcium Magnesium

Doctor's Best High Absorption 100% Chelated Magnesium

Finest Nutrition [Walgreens] Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc

Finest Nutrition [Walgreens] Magnesium 400 mg

Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Magnesium Relax & Restore

Kirkland Signature [Costco] Calcium Citrate Magnesium And Zinc

Metagenics CalApatite Bone Builder With Magnesium

Spring Valley [Walmart] Magnesium Citrate

Make sure the magnesium supplement you take passed our quality review and is right for you!
Isn't your health worth it?

Magnesium supplements are available in so many different forms, dosages and ingredient combinations, how do you know which one is best for you?

To answer these questions, ConsumerLab.com staff spent several months testing of over 40 popular magnesium supplements on the market (including combination products with calcium, vitamin D or vitamin K). Our tests revealed that several contained less magnesium than claimed, took longer than normally expected to break apart in disintegration testing, were contaminated with lead, or were improperly labeled. We also found that one type of magnesium supplement rapidly absorbs so much water from the air that it damages tablets and other supplements which may be nearby.

Fortunately, we also identified many high quality magnesium supplements that contained what they claimed and passed all of CL's tests — some of which provide a good dose of magnesium for just a few cents per day.

You must become a ConsumerLab.com member to get the full test results for magnesium supplements, including quality ratings and CL's Top Picks among magnesium supplements. You will get results for 47 magnesium supplements: 27 selected for testing by ConsumerLab.com and 20 others that passed the same tests through CL's voluntary Quality Certification Program, as well as information about five supplements similar to ones that passed testing.

Although most people get enough magnesium in their diets, people with diabetes, diseases of the digestive tract, and those who use medications such as Nexium and Prilosec may be at increased risk of deficiency. Magnesium supplementation may also improve glucose status in people with pre-diabetes, and may be helpful for restless leg syndrome, migraines and menstrual pain. It is also an effective laxative and antacid. However, it's important to choose supplements carefully based on your needs, as certain forms of magnesium forms are better absorbed than others or are more likely to cause diarrhea.

In this comprehensive review, you'll discover:

Which magnesium failed our quality ratings and which passed — including combinations with calcium, vitamin D and vitamin K
CL's Top Picks among the best magnesium supplements
Cost comparisons to help you choose a magnesium supplement offering the best value
The pros and cons of different forms of magnesium, including magnesium aspartate and orotate, magnesium citrate, magnesium chloride, magnesium lactate and lactate dihydrate, magnesium oxide and magnesium-L-threonate
How to get adequate magnesium from food
The causes and symptoms of magnesium deficiency
How much magnesium to take to treat or prevent magnesium deficiency and other conditions/li>
The evidence for and against using magnesium supplements for restless leg syndrome, leg cramps, migraines and more
Potential drug interactions and side-effects of magnesium supplements

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ConsumerLab.com Answers -- for Magnesium and Calcium-Magnesium Supplements Review

Question:
Some websites are highly critical of magnesium stearate, which is in many supplements. Is this substance toxic and should I avoid it? Get the answer >>

Question:
Sometimes my powdered supplements get clumpy. Should I be concerned? Get the answer >>

Question:
What is the benefit of magnesium orotate compared to other forms of magnesium? Get the answer >>

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Are supplements with amino acid chelated minerals better than those with other forms of minerals? Get the answer >>

Question:
Are enteric coated supplements better than non-enteric coated ones? Get the answer >>

Question:
Do magnesium supplements, like Magtein, help memory or protect against Alzheimer's disease? Get the answer >>

Question:
Can taking certain forms of potassium, such as potassium citrate, reduce my chances of getting kidney stones? I've read a study that says it can, but it's unclear how much I should take. Get the answer >>

Question:
Do any supplements help with migraines? Get the answer >>

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I have low blood pressure. Are there any supplements I should avoid? Get the answer >>

Question:
Which is the best form of magnesium to take - one that contains the most magnesium and is best absorbed? Get the answer >>

Question:
How can the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for magnesium be higher than the Upper Tolerable Intake Level (UL)? That is, how can an amount which is healthful also put you at risk for harm? Get the answer >>

Question:
Is it important to take calcium and magnesium together? Get the answer >>

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Do any supplements help for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)? Get the answer >>

Question:
Are there negative interactions between the following supplements I take twice each day, as well as 60 mg of beta-sitosterol with dinner: Vitamin C (500 mg), CoQ10 (100 mg), grape seed extract (100 mg), fish oil (500 mg), vitamin D3/calcium/magnesium/zinc (200 IU/333 mg/113 mg/5mg)? Get the answer >>

Question:
Help! How do I know how much magnesium I am actually getting from my supplement? The label says it contains 500 mg of magnesium "as magnesium citrate" -- but how much of that is magnesium and how much is citrate? Get the answer >>

Question:
Which supplements reduce the risk of stroke? Which increase the risk of stroke? Get the answer >>

Question:
Which supplements can help with indigestion and/or heartburn? Get the answer >>

Question:
How do I choose the best magnesium supplement? Get the answer >>

Question:
Will an Epsom salt bath increase magnesium levels in my body like a supplement? Get the answer >>

Question:
What are the side effects of magnesium supplements? Get the answer >>

Question:
I started taking a magnesium supplement (400 mg from magnesium oxide) and developed diarrhea. Might there a problem with the supplement? Get the answer >>

Question:
Does magnesium help with depression? Get the answer >>

Question:
What is Prelief? Does it really help for heartburn and/or bladder pain from acidic foods? Get the answer >>

Question:
Is there an accurate test for magnesium deficiency? Get the answer >>

Question:
I've read that magnesium deficiency is rare but also that most people don't get enough magnesium. How can these both be true? Get the answer >>

Question:
Do magnesium creams, sprays and oils really work? Get the answer >>

Question:
Is it true that magnesium bisglycinate from BioSchwartz is less likely to cause a laxative effect than other forms of magnesium? Get the answer >>

Question:
Are the "% DV" numbers on vitamin supplement labels really based on what I need? Get the answer >>

Question:
Are there any supplements I should avoid when taking an antibiotic? Are there any that may be helpful? Get the answer >>

Question:
Which supplements can help treat constipation? Get the answer >>

Question:
Which supplements can cause diarrhea? Get the answer >>

Question:
Are there drug interactions with magnesium supplements? Get the answer >>

Question:
Do any supplements help for restless legs syndrome? Get the answer >>

Question:
Is it true that I should not keep magnesium supplements in a daily pill pack mixed with other supplements and medicines? Get the answer >>

Question:
Do any supplements help for ulcerative colitis? Get the answer >>

Question:
Does taking a laxative interfere with the absorption of vitamins or minerals? Get the answer >>

Question:
Are liquid vitamins better than pills? Get the answer >>

Question:
How much magnesium from supplements is too much? Get the answer >>

Question:
Do any supplements help reduce the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)? Get the answer >>

Update:
(7/11/17): A company selling one of the products covered in this Review was recently sent a Warning Letter from FDA indicating that the product is being marketed online with claims regarding its ability to cure, prevent, or treat diseases, and this is not permitted for a supplement. For details, see the "Update" at the top of the full Review.

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