What Are Best Magnesium Supplements?

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Plate with pills of minerals
What Are the Best Magnesium Supplements?
Reviewed by the BioHackers Lab Team | Last updated: January 2, 2023

The best magnesium supplement brands are:

Did you know that an electrolyte imbalance is common when eating keto?

At least there is an easy fix for it.

Magnesium deficiency is common for people who have cut their carbs and are deep in ketosis, but it can be fixed with an easy supplement.

Magnesium is one of the minerals in our bodies that we are most often lacking.

We need it for energy production, to synthesize DNA and RNA, and to help transport calcium and potassium ions across our cell membranes, which helps our nerve impulse conduction, muscle relaxation and contraction, and to regulate our heart rhythm.

Magnesium is a macro-mineral that is important to your body, especially when attempting a keto diet. Below, we’ll outline a few supplements that can keep you feeling your best.

I’d definitely recommend taking it, especially if you have symptoms of the keto flu.

The Best Magnesium Supplement Brands in 2024


1. Life Extension Magnesium Supplement – 500 mg

Overview
  • Each capsule contains 500 mg of magnesium
  • The capsules are made out of vegetable cellulose instead of gelatin which may contain animal by-products
  • Labeled Non-GMO
  • Although one capsule per day will meet the daily recommended dosage, if prescribed by your doctor, you can take one capsule up to three times daily
  • Helps the metabolic profile, impacts inflammation and essential for cardiovascular health
  • With four different types of magnesium in each capsule, there’s a variety that will work for everyone’s system
  • Vegetarian capsules that are easy to swallow and contain no animal by-products
  • Non-GMO
  • Only one capsule is needed per day to meet the daily recommended dosage
  • Does not contain Magnesium Stearate – which doesn’t provide much magnesium, to begin with
  • This product is not labeled as approved or verified by the United States Pharmacopeia or the National Products Association
  • Since each capsule provides 125% of your daily recommended dose, you should keep an eye on your diet to make sure you’re not getting too much magnesium, which can be a diuretic
  • Unlike other supplements, Life Extensions Magnesium is not labeled as soy, gluten, yeast or starch free.
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Life Extension has been researching and recommending minerals and supplements since 1983. In fact, they were the first to recommend a daily low-dose aspirin to help prevent vascular disease. The pride themselves in making pharmaceutical-grade level products. (ref)

The Life Extension magnesium capsules are part of Life Extension’s range of wellness products including vitamins and minerals, supplements, herbs and botanicals, hormones, skin and personal care, diet and lifestyle products, and even supplements for your canine or feline family member.

The recommended daily allowance of magnesium is different for each person based on their age and gender. So that means that a male that is aged 19-30 is recommended to take 400 mg per day while a female the same age is recommended to only take 310 mg.

Life Extension’s capsule is 500 mg, which is about 125% of the daily recommended value. Each capsule has four different types of magnesium to help you reach that daily dosage, including magnesium oxide, citrate, succinate, and TRAACS® (registered trademark of Albion Laboratories) magnesium lysyl glycinate chelate.

It’s important for our bodies to maintain balanced magnesium levels to help relax the muscles within our blood vessels, promote a healthy cardiovascular system, and help our body to metabolize minerals to repair and rebuild.


2. Dr. Mercola Magnesium L-Threonate Supplement – 2000 mg

Dr. Mercola Magnesium L-Threonate supplement

Overview
  • Each serving equals 144 mg of the elemental magnesium that is recommended
  • Three capsules make up one suggested daily dose
  • Easy to swallow capsules
  • Magnesium L-Threonate is the most absorbed form of magnesium available
  • Though the serving size is three capsules, each is easy to swallow
  • Also helps heart health, regulate blood pressure, and muscle cramps
  • Is gentler on the stomach than other types of magnesium supplements
  • Non-GMO
  • The label doesn’t show if it’s gluten-free, vegetarian, or free of soy, yeast or starch like other supplements
  • It’s one of the pricier of the available magnesium supplements
  • Dosage can be misleading – serving size is three capsules which states 2000 mg, but it’s actually only 144 mg of essential magnesium
  • This product is not labeled as approved or verified by the United States Pharmacopeia or the National Products Association
  • Having to take the capsules at different times may be too much trouble

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Dr. Mercola is a Chicago doctor who discovered the world of natural medicine in the 1990’s. He started his website as a way to help people be “as healthy as you can possibly be.” A portion of the profits from his site goes to various non-profit organizations. So you can take care of your health and do some good in the world.

Dr. Mercola Magnesium L-Threonate capsules are one of the different types of magnesium supplements offered by Dr. Mercola. Like with most wellness companies out there now, Dr. Mercola also provides other supplements, proteins, food and drinks and personal care items. Let’s not forget about his line of products for home and garden, pets, kids, fitness, books, and dvds.

Magnesium L-Threonate has a better absorption rate – which basically means that your body will use more of the good stuff instead of it passing right through your system. Its high cellular penetration helps it cross your blood-brain barrier and penetrate the cell membranes to support and detoxify your brain and body.

Unlike Life Extension, the serving size for Dr. Mercola’s Magnesium L-Threonate is three capsules. Rather than just popping one capsule once a day, the L-Threonate recommendation is to take two capsules mid-day and one at night, about two hours before bed.

For some people, this may sound pretty high maintenance. But once you take all three capsules, you’ll have taken 2000 mg of Magnesium L-Threonate, including 144 mg of elemental magnesium.


3. KAL Magnesium Glycinate Supplement – 400 mg

KAL Magnesium Glycinate 400mg

Overview
  • Each serving is two tablets, taken once per day and equals 400 mg of magnesium glycinate
  • KAL has been making wellness supplements since 1932, so they’ve been around awhile
  • The magnesium glycinate is gentler on the stomach
  • Labeled as vegetarian
  • Vegetarian tablets are easier for more people to take
  • Since they’re tablets, they can be broken in half
  • Serving size is two tablets once per day, so no need to keep track of tablets throughout the day
  • Created in a facility that sticks to GMP guidelines
  • Contain Magnesium Stearate – this can cause liver toxicity and can damage skin
  • The label does not indicate whether it’s approved or verified by the United States Pharmacopeia or the
  • National Products Association
  • The label also doesn’t state if it’s gluten, soy, starch or yeast free

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KAL got its name from the very first product they offered in 1932 – a calcium/phosphorus powder. Then in 1995, it was acquired by Neutraceutical and went from focusing on powders to tablets, and then a full line of wellness products.

KAL also created one of the first nutritional supplement lines in the U.S. They now offer a range of vitamins and minerals, its own Stevia sweetener, kids vitamins, digestive ingredients, probiotics and enzymes, a full line of amino acids, and topicals like tea tree oil, deodorants, creams, and facial gels.

The KAL – Magnesium Glycinate 400 is another option to make sure your magnesium levels don’t fall too low while on the keto or low-carb diet. The daily serving size is two tablets, which is a total of 400 mg of magnesium as magnesium glycinate.

Unlike the other two on my list, KAL’s nutritional label shows it has 1g of dietary fiber and total carbs. So if you’re counting calories, add five calories for each serving.

Magnesium glycinate is one type that’s better absorbed by the body and is gentler on your stomach. Though the tablets themselves might be a bit big, you can just cut them in half to make them easier to swallow. Although there’s nothing on the label about it, the quality control section of their site explains that all products are manufactured following current GMP practices.

The good thing about KAL’s supplement is that you just take two tablets, one time per day. It’s easier than having to break up the dose throughout the day. It’s also labeled as vegetarian, in case that’s something that’s important for you.


4. BiOptimizers Magnesium Breakthrough Supplement – 500 mg

No products found.

Overview
  • Only brand to contain seven forms of magnesium in one supplement
  • Gives you magnesium bisglycinate, malate, chelate, aspartate, orotate, taurate, and citrate
  • Uses a humic/fulvic blend to help aid absorption

No products found.

The BiOptimzer Magnesium Breakthrough supplement is unique being that it has seven of the best forms of magnesium all in one. An interesting form in the ingredients is magnesium sucrosomial which is said to be good for helping increase absorption too. BiOptimzer breakthrough magnesium would be a good everyday magnesium supplement option to take.


Magnesium Buyers Guide

What Foods Are High in Magnesium?

Real food is always number one choice for getting all your vitamins and minerals.

Here are some grocery items that are a good source of natural magnesium:

Benefits of Taking Magnesium

  1. Reduce the risk of a stroke
  2. Improve pain for fibromyalgia sufferers
  3. Lower the risk of type 2 diabetes
  4. Slowed the development of osteoporosis
  5. Reduced the frequency of migraine headaches

(Source)

What is the Best Time to Take Magnesium?

Take magnesium tablets with or just after a meal for optimal absorption. Take Mg either in the morning with breakfast or with dinner in the evening.

Possible Side-Effects Symptoms

The set upper limit for supplemented magnesium is 350mg/day.

You can safely take more than that per day. However, very high doses of magnesium have cause bad side-effects.

Mild
Upset stomach feeling
Abdominal cramping
Nausea
Diarrhea
Severe
Magnesium toxicity called hypermagnesemia
Hypotension, nausea, vomiting, facial flushing, retention of urine, ileus, depression, and lethargy before progressing to muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, extreme hypotension, irregular heartbeat, and cardiac arrest.

Even though a keto or low carb diet can help some health or weight-loss issues, it’s important to remember that it can also deprive your body of essential minerals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Ok to Take Magnesium Everyday?

Yes, it is ok to take a magnesium supplement everyday if you need to support your magnesium levels. Take caution if you start experiencing any side-effects.

When Is Best to Take Magnesium?

You can take a magnesium supplement any time of the day, but some types of magnesium might be better to take in the evening.

Do You Take Magnesium With Food?

Yes, take your magnesium supplement alongside food.

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