Magnesium vs NAC for anxiety
Short answer: For anxiety, users rate them about the same: 89% report improvement with Magnesium (226 reports) and 90% with NAC (259 reports).
Magnesium has 82 meta-analyses and 210 randomized trials on PubMed; NAC has 387 and 767.
Based on 1,893 reports about Magnesium and 1,645 about NAC. Not medical advice.
| Magnesium Supplement | NAC Supplement | |
|---|---|---|
| User score | 51 | 49 |
| Verdict | Mostly positive | Mixed |
| Positive of reports that state an outcome | 72% | 55% |
| Reports | 1,893 | 1,645 |
| Research | AResearch: Strong | AResearch: Strong |
| Meta-analyses / RCTs | 82 / 210 | 387 / 767 |
| Mainly used for | ||
| Weight loss % reporting improvement | — | 75% (4) |
| Appetite % reporting improvement | 100% (2) | 90% (31) |
| Focus % reporting improvement | 77% (39) | 82% (156) |
| Energy % reporting improvement | 75% (73) | 74% (78) |
| Sleep % reporting improvement | 87% (331) | 71% (41) |
| Anxiety % reporting improvement | 89% (226) | 90% (259) |
| Mood % reporting improvement | 80% (99) | 65% (274) |
| Memory % reporting improvement | 100% (7) | 79% (14) |
| Performance % reporting improvement | 87% (15) | 75% (8) |
| Recovery % reporting improvement | 96% (24) | 86% (14) |
| Pain & inflammation % reporting improvement | 91% (33) | 86% (28) |
| Digestion % reporting improvement | 83% (29) | 72% (18) |
| Libido % reporting improvement | 62% (13) | 29% (7) |
| Hormones % reporting improvement | 91% (22) | 88% (8) |
| Blood sugar % reporting improvement | 100% (3) | 100% (3) |
| Heart & lipids % reporting improvement | 95% (22) | 67% (12) |
| Skin & hair % reporting improvement | 100% (2) | 89% (18) |
| Immunity % reporting improvement | 86% (7) | 97% (34) |
| Longevity % reporting improvement | 100% (3) | 100% (7) |
| Common side effects | diarrhea, drowsiness, stomach issues, vivid dreams | anhedonia, fatigue, stomach issues, depression |
| Typical dose reported | daily | as needed |
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 ↗“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.”
Taken together, these preliminary findings suggest that dietetic approaches might be included as part of BD treatment. Also considering the high risk of metabolic disorders in individuals with BD, they should be encouraged to choose healthy dietary lifestyles, including daily intake of fruits, vegetables, seafood and whole grains.
Nutr Neurosci, 2023 ↗“NAC has helped me stay calm and reduce anxiety as well as gives me loads of energy if I am sleep deprived.”
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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