PlainPill

Magnesium vs Magnesium Oxide for digestion

Short answer: For digestion, more users report improvement with Magnesium — 83% of 29 reports, versus 58% of 19 for Magnesium Oxide.

Magnesium has 82 meta-analyses and 210 randomized trials on PubMed; Magnesium Oxide has 24 and 81.

Based on 1,893 reports about Magnesium and 147 about Magnesium Oxide. Not medical advice.

Magnesium
Supplement
Magnesium Oxide
Supplement
User score5142
Verdict
Mostly positive
Mostly negative
Positive
of reports that state an outcome
72%14%
Reports1,893147
ResearchAResearch: StrongAResearch: Strong
Meta-analyses / RCTs82 / 21024 / 81
Mainly used for
Appetite
% reporting improvement
100% (2)—
Focus
% reporting improvement
77% (39)0% (3)
Energy
% reporting improvement
75% (73)75% (4)
Sleep
% reporting improvement
87% (331)29% (17)
Anxiety
% reporting improvement
89% (226)67% (3)
Mood
% reporting improvement
80% (99)67% (3)
Memory
% reporting improvement
100% (7)—
Performance
% reporting improvement
87% (15)—
Recovery
% reporting improvement
96% (24)—
Pain & inflammation
% reporting improvement
91% (33)50% (2)
Digestion
% reporting improvement
83% (29)58% (19)
Libido
% reporting improvement
62% (13)—
Hormones
% reporting improvement
91% (22)—
Blood sugar
% reporting improvement
100% (3)—
Heart & lipids
% reporting improvement
95% (22)—
Skin & hair
% reporting improvement
100% (2)—
Immunity
% reporting improvement
86% (7)—
Longevity
% reporting improvement
100% (3)—
Common side effectsdiarrhea, drowsiness, stomach issues, vivid dreamsdiarrhea, stomach issues, laxative effect, insomnia
Typical dose reporteddaily375 mg
Magnesium
Latest review conclusion

This review confirms that the quality of literature is substandard for physicians to make well-informed recommendations on usage of oral magnesium for older adults with insomnia. However, given that oral magnesium is very cheap and widely available, RCT evidence may support oral magnesium supplements (less than 1 g quantities given up to three times a day) for insomnia symptoms.

BMC Complement Med Ther, 2021 ↗
What a user said
“after supplementing with 400mg of Magnesium daily. Winter blues hit me hard and my multivitamin wasn't doing any justice, but once I began supplementing Magnesium, everything changed.”
Full Magnesium profile →
Magnesium Oxide
Latest review conclusion

Limitations include small sample sizes in some studies, heterogeneity of conditions being treated, and a range of reference treatments.Despite some methodological limitations, the results from randomised, controlled trials to date suggest benefits for Vitex extracts in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome, premenstrual dysphoric disorder and latent hyperprolactinaemia. Further research is recommended, and greater transparency in reporting for future trials.

Planta Med, 2013 ↗
What a user said
“The next day, my legs felt amazing. I could walk again without feeling like my legs were deadweight.”
Full Magnesium Oxide profile →

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Percentages come from first-hand user reports and are not clinical outcomes. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. How we rate