Magnesium vs Omega-3 for pain & inflammation
Short answer: For pain & inflammation, users rate them about the same: 91% report improvement with Magnesium (33 reports) and 91% with Omega-3 (78 reports).
Magnesium has 82 meta-analyses and 210 randomized trials on PubMed; Omega-3 has 1,341 and 3,093.
Based on 1,860 reports about Magnesium and 1,889 about Omega-3. Not medical advice.
| Magnesium Supplement | Omega-3 Supplement | |
|---|---|---|
| User score | 51 | 48 |
| Verdict | Mostly positive | Mostly positive |
| Positive of reports that state an outcome | 74% | 65% |
| Reports | 1,860 | 1,889 |
| Research | AResearch: Strong | AResearch: Strong |
| Meta-analyses / RCTs | 82 / 210 | 1,341 / 3,093 |
| Mainly used for | ||
| Weight loss % reporting improvement | — | 100% (2) |
| Appetite % reporting improvement | 100% (2) | — |
| Focus % reporting improvement | 77% (39) | 81% (120) |
| Energy % reporting improvement | 76% (72) | 75% (40) |
| Sleep % reporting improvement | 87% (325) | 78% (23) |
| Anxiety % reporting improvement | 89% (219) | 75% (68) |
| Mood % reporting improvement | 80% (95) | 81% (190) |
| Memory % reporting improvement | 100% (7) | 77% (48) |
| Performance % reporting improvement | 87% (15) | 88% (16) |
| Recovery % reporting improvement | 96% (24) | 89% (19) |
| Pain & inflammation % reporting improvement | 91% (33) | 91% (78) |
| Digestion % reporting improvement | 83% (29) | 22% (9) |
| Libido % reporting improvement | 62% (13) | 71% (14) |
| Hormones % reporting improvement | 91% (22) | 100% (2) |
| Blood sugar % reporting improvement | 100% (3) | 50% (2) |
| Heart & lipids % reporting improvement | 95% (22) | 76% (55) |
| Skin & hair % reporting improvement | 100% (2) | 89% (38) |
| Immunity % reporting improvement | 86% (7) | 67% (9) |
| Longevity % reporting improvement | 100% (3) | 83% (6) |
| Common side effects | drowsiness, diarrhea, stomach issues, vivid dreams | brain fog, anxiety, depression, fatigue |
| Typical dose reported | daily | sparingly |
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 ↗“Then: -Theanine -GABA -Magnesium -Melatonin -Time in a Sauna -Blue Blocking Glasses -Reading before bed”
For glycated hemoglobin, there was no significant effect in the meta-analysis. This systematic review with meta-analysis demonstrated that supplementation with omega-3 has protective effects on diabetes parameters.
Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 2022 ↗“fish oil”
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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