What are magnesium’s main benefits?

    Last Updated: May 20, 2024

    Low magnesium levels are associated with a higher risk of diabetes, and supplementation with magnesium has been shown to reduce blood glucose and improve insulin sensitivity,[1][2][3] especially in people who are insulin resistant and/or magnesium deficient[4][5][6][7] and/or in women with gestational diabetes.[3][8]

    Supplemental magnesium also appears to lower blood pressure in people who are deficient in magnesium[9][10] and in those who have elevated blood pressure (hypertension).[11][12][13] The average reduction in blood pressure after magnesium supplementation is 2–4 mmHg for systolic blood pressure and 2 mmHg for diastolic blood pressure,[14][15] though the reductions may be greater for individuals with type 2 diabetes (6–8 mmHg and 2–3 mmHg for systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively).[16][17]

    There is some indication that magnesium supplementation may reduce the frequency and intensity of migraine headache[18][19][20] and attenuate premenstrual symptoms in women.[21][22][23]

    References

    1. ^Nicola Veronese, Ligia J Dominguez, Damiano Pizzol, Jacopo Demurtas, Lee Smith, Mario BarbagalloOral Magnesium Supplementation for Treating Glucose Metabolism Parameters in People with or at Risk of Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Double-Blind Randomized Controlled TrialsNutrients.(2021 Nov 15)
    2. ^Verma H, Garg REffect of magnesium supplementation on type 2 diabetes associated cardiovascular risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysisJ Hum Nutr Diet.(2017 Oct)
    3. ^Qu Q, Rong R, Yu JEffect of magnesium supplementation on pregnancy outcome in gestational diabetes mellitus patients: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Food Sci Nutr.(2022-Oct)
    4. ^Guerrero-Romero F, Tamez-Perez HE, González-González G, Salinas-Martínez AM, Montes-Villarreal J, Treviño-Ortiz JH, Rodríguez-Morán MOral magnesium supplementation improves insulin sensitivity in non-diabetic subjects with insulin resistance. A double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial.Diabetes Metab.(2004-Jun)
    5. ^Guerrero-Romero F, Rodríguez-Morán MMagnesium improves the beta-cell function to compensate variation of insulin sensitivity: double-blind, randomized clinical trialEur J Clin Invest.(2011 Apr)
    6. ^Mooren FC, Krüger K, Völker K, Golf SW, Wadepuhl M, Kraus AOral magnesium supplementation reduces insulin resistance in non-diabetic subjects - a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trialDiabetes Obes Metab.(2011 Mar)
    7. ^Rodríguez-Morán M, Guerrero-Romero FOral magnesium supplementation improves insulin sensitivity and metabolic control in type 2 diabetic subjects: a randomized double-blind controlled trialDiabetes Care.(2003 Apr)
    8. ^Xiaoqing Tan, Yi HuangMagnesium supplementation for glycemic status in women with gestational diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysisGynecol Endocrinol.(2021 Dec 15)
    9. ^Sacks FM, Willett WC, Smith A, Brown LE, Rosner B, Moore TJEffect on blood pressure of potassium, calcium, and magnesium in women with low habitual intakeHypertension.(1998 Jan)
    10. ^Guerrero-Romero F, Rodríguez-Morán MThe effect of lowering blood pressure by magnesium supplementation in diabetic hypertensive adults with low serum magnesium levels: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trialJ Hum Hypertens.(2009 Apr)
    11. ^Lee S, Park HK, Son SP, Lee CW, Kim IJ, Kim HJEffects of oral magnesium supplementation on insulin sensitivity and blood pressure in normo-magnesemic nondiabetic overweight Korean adultsNutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis.(2009 Dec)
    12. ^Hatzistavri LS, Sarafidis PA, Georgianos PI, Tziolas IM, Aroditis CP, Zebekakis PE, Pikilidou MI, Lasaridis ANOral magnesium supplementation reduces ambulatory blood pressure in patients with mild hypertensionAm J Hypertens.(2009 Oct)
    13. ^Kawano Y, Matsuoka H, Takishita S, Omae TEffects of magnesium supplementation in hypertensive patients: assessment by office, home, and ambulatory blood pressuresHypertension.(1998 Aug)
    14. ^Xi Zhang, Yufeng Li, Liana C Del Gobbo, Andrea Rosanoff, Jiawei Wang, Wen Zhang, Yiqing SongEffects of Magnesium Supplementation on Blood Pressure: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled TrialsHypertension.(2016 Aug)
    15. ^Daniel T Dibaba, Pengcheng Xun, Yiqing Song, Andrea Rosanoff, Michael Shechter, Ka HeThe effect of magnesium supplementation on blood pressure in individuals with insulin resistance, prediabetes, or noncommunicable chronic diseases: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsAm J Clin Nutr.(2017 Sep)
    16. ^Asbaghi O, Hosseini R, Boozari B, Ghaedi E, Kashkooli S, Moradi SThe Effects of Magnesium Supplementation on Blood Pressure and Obesity Measure Among Type 2 Diabetes Patient: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Biol Trace Elem Res.(2021-Feb)
    17. ^Xu L, Li X, Wang X, Xu MEffects of magnesium supplementation on improving hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension in type 2 diabetes: A pooled analysis of 24 randomized controlled trials.Front Nutr.(2022)
    18. ^Köseoglu E, Talaslioglu A, Gönül AS, Kula MThe effects of magnesium prophylaxis in migraine without auraMagnes Res.(2008 Jun)
    19. ^Veronese N, Demurtas J, Pesolillo G, Celotto S, Barnini T, Calusi G, Caruso MG, Notarnicola M, Reddavide R, Stubbs B, Solmi M, Maggi S, Vaona A, Firth J, Smith L, Koyanagi A, Dominguez L, Barbagallo MMagnesium and health outcomes: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational and intervention studiesEur J Nutr.(2019 Jan 25)
    20. ^Hsiao-Yean Chiu, Tu-Hsueh Yeh, Yin-Cheng Huang, Pin-Yuan ChenEffects of Intravenous and Oral Magnesium on Reducing Migraine: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled TrialsPain Physician.(2016 Jan)
    21. ^Quaranta S, Buscaglia MA, Meroni MG, Colombo E, Cella SPilot study of the efficacy and safety of a modified-release magnesium 250 mg tablet (Sincromag) for the treatment of premenstrual syndromeClin Drug Investig.(2007)
    22. ^Walker AF, De Souza MC, Vickers MF, Abeyasekera S, Collins ML, Trinca LAMagnesium supplementation alleviates premenstrual symptoms of fluid retentionJ Womens Health.(1998 Nov)
    23. ^De Souza MC, Walker AF, Robinson PA, Bolland KA synergistic effect of a daily supplement for 1 month of 200 mg magnesium plus 50 mg vitamin B6 for the relief of anxiety-related premenstrual symptoms: a randomized, double-blind, crossover studyJ Womens Health Gend Based Med.(2000 Mar)