Magnesium citrate is the form of magnesium that your body absorbs with the most ease. Magnesium oxide has a higher level of elemental magnesium in it. Some of the best heart health supplements will contain these two types of magnesium in them.
Magnesium orotate has been shown to reduce the severity of chronic myocardial dysfunction and structural damage in cardiomyopathy. It supplies much needed energy to an oxygen-starved heart by driving the pentose pathway.
The answer depends on your individual needs and preferences. If you're looking to address constipation, magnesium citrate might be your best choice. If you're seeking relaxation and improved sleep, magnesium glycinate may be the better option.
In the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias of varying genesis, an "observational study" in 1,160 patients showed that a high-dose oral magnesium preparation (Magnesium-Diasporal N 300 Granulat) was effective. In 82% of the patients observed, a dose of at least 300 mg magnesium/day produced good to very good results.
It's really going to depend on your health needs and goals. Magnesium citrate is a more common choice if you want to maintain magnesium levels for general whole-body health. On the other hand, magnesium glycinate has less bioavailability but can have a calming effect.
While a healthy kidney is capable of excreting excess magnesium, a damaged kidney may not have this same advantage. Thus, individuals with heart or kidney problems (e.g., chronic kidney disease) should especially get approval from their provider before using the supplement.
Taking large or frequent doses of dietary magnesium supplements, including magnesium glycinate, can cause adverse effects, including diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps. Extremely high intakes of magnesium can lead to an irregular heartbeat and potentially a cardiac arrest, which can be dangerous.
Too much magnesium, and the gates move slowly, which can mean your heart will beat more slowly. Too little magnesium and the gates open and close quicker. So, your heart speeds up. And, then — voila: heart palpitations.
Oral: Magnesium glycinate is thought to be the best type of oral supplement when correcting a severe magnesium deficiency. Sublingual: Angstrom Magnesium is 99% pure Magnesium that's applied under the tongue.
Recommended Dosages
Aim for more than the bare minimum RDA (420 mg for men, 370 mg for women). A recommended dosage is 600 mg-800 mg/day. (For example, 200 mg three times a day and 200 mg at bedtime.) But start off with very low dosages.
Risks of long-term use: While Magnesium Glycinate is generally considered safe in the short term, there is some evidence to suggest that long-term use of magnesium supplements could potentially lead to health issues.
Magnesium glycinate -- Magnesium glycinate (magnesium bound with glycine, a non-essential amino acid) is one of the most bioavailable and absorbable forms of magnesium, and also the least likely to induce diarrhea. It is the safest option for correcting a long-term deficiency.
Optimal Vitamin K2 intake is crucial to avoid the calcium plaque buildup of atherosclerosis, thus keeping the risk and rate of calcification as low as possible. Matrix GLA protein (MGP)—found in the tissues of the heart, kidneys, and lungs—plays a dominant role in vascular calcium metabolism.
Magnesium prevents calcium buildup in cholesterol plaque in arteries, which leads to clogged arteries. Magnesium levels are inversely associated with cardiovascular disease risk.
Adding nutrients like magnesium, CoQ10, taurine, and L-carnitine may help in some cases. In more severe cases of heart palpitations, your doctor may suggest prescription medication like beta-blockers.
Campbell adds that magnesium also helps with muscle contraction or pumping of the heart. Research published in Nutrients showed that magnesium deficiency has clinical features including severe muscle cramps and increases of irregular heartbeats known as arrhythmias.
Takeaway. Magnesium is essential for well-being, but too much can cause problems, including digestive issues, lethargy, and an irregular heartbeat. In rare cases, a magnesium overdose can be fatal. Magnesium toxicity is rare in otherwise healthy people, and levels are more likely to be low than high.
People with diabetes, intestinal disease, heart disease or kidney disease should not take magnesium before speaking with their health care provider. Overdose. Signs of a magnesium overdose can include nausea, diarrhea, low blood pressure, muscle weakness, and fatigue. At very high doses, magnesium can be fatal.
However, if left untreated, magnesium toxicity has a high mortality rate due to respiratory paralysis and cardiac arrest.
Magnesium supplements can cause excessive accumulation of magnesium in the blood, especially with patients who have chronic kidney disease. Accumulation of magnesium in the blood can cause muscle weakness, but does not damage the kidney directly.
The time of day doesn't matter so much—it's the consistency of taking magnesium daily that matters most. While some recommend taking magnesium supplements right before bed (to calm your mind and nervous system, setting the stage for sleep), do what works best for you to ensure that it becomes a daily healthy habit.
One study. View Source of older adults with insomnia found that magnesium supplementation at a dose of 500 milligrams daily for eight weeks helped them fall asleep fast, stay asleep longer, reduced nighttime awakenings, and increased their levels of naturally circulating melatonin.