Umeda recommends taking the supplement about 30 minutes before bedtime.
Ideally, you should take magnesium at the same time every day, whether that's in the morning with your cup of coffee or in the evening right before you go to bed. The time of day doesn't matter so much—it's the consistency of taking magnesium daily that matters most.
While this doesn't prove that magnesium alone can help with sleep, taking a magnesium supplement each night before bed won't necessarily hurt you. However, it's recommended that you see your healthcare provider before you start popping magnesium supplements at bedtime.
“Magnesium is also thought to affect levels of melatonin, the hormone associated with when we fall asleep and when we wake up, known as our circadian rhythm,” Gurubhagavatula added. Magnesium can relax muscles and may help improve symptoms of restless legs in some people, she said.
Magnesium regulates both of these parts of the nervous system, which can help ease a racing mind or tense muscles before falling asleep. Magnesium promotes melatonin production – Melatonin is a hormone your body produces to help you fall asleep and regulate your sleep cycle.
Magnesium may also reduce the absorption of medications such as blood thinners, anti-diabetes drugs, diuretics, and drugs used to treat the brittle bone disease osteoporosis, Cooperman says. “Check with your doctor if you're considering using magnesium,” he says.
Volpe said it is recommended to take the magnesium supplement about 30 minutes prior to bed for those taking magnesium to see if it helps them to sleep. Ehsani said it's also recommended to take magnesium supplements with food, "so possibly with your last meal like dinner or evening snack."
Magnesium is best for those with magnesium deficiency, insomnia due to stress or anxiety, or muscle pain and cramping. On the other hand, melatonin is considered best for those who suffer from circadian rhythm disruption, hormonal imbalances, or melatonin deficiency.
So, get enough vitamin D—just take it in the morning or afternoon. At night, take supplements that support sleep quality and muscle relaxation, like magnesium and melatonin (which you'll find in soothing, sippable Bulletproof Sleep Collagen Protein).
Magnesium glycinate is considered to be the most effective type of magnesium for bettering sleep, as it may help relax both the nervous system and your muscles. This product doesn't include any other added ingredients and is suitable for those seeking a supplement for both sleep and general use.
But magnesium in itself does not make you tired. Magnesium is needed for hundreds of functions in the body, not just sleep! For example, if you take magnesium in the morning, magnesium will work with your body -- if you need energy, or clarity and mental focus, magnesium supports those functions.
There's some evidence that magnesium is involved in melatonin production, which governs the body's sleep-wake cycles8. Triggered by darkness, melatonin spikes in the evening and encourages restful, high-quality sleep.
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.
Doses less than 350 mg daily are safe for most adults. In some people, magnesium might cause stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and other side effects. When taken in very large amounts (greater than 350 mg daily), magnesium is POSSIBLY UNSAFE.
Can you take vitamin D and magnesium together? Yes. In fact, it's probably best to take both together. Because so many people have low magnesium levels, vitamin D supplements on their own aren't very helpful for a large portion of the population.
Unfortunately, the short answer is that coffee does deplete our magnesium. There are several studies that show the reasons why. Number one is that it causes an increased urinary output of Magnesium. So, when you're drinking coffee, your body pees out more magnesium.
Very low magnesium levels may cause:
Headaches. Nighttime leg cramps. Numbness or tingling in the legs or hands. General body weakness.
Magnesium is important for many processes in the body, including regulating muscle and nerve function, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure and making protein, bone, and DNA.
Magnesium glycinate, which combines the mineral with the amino acid glycine, is the most popular and well-researched combination for treating sleep disorders and helping to reduce anxiety, depression, and stress.
Some people experience stomach cramping after taking too much magnesium (around 600 mg a day). This high dosage, especially supplements with large doses of magnesium oxide, can cause a laxative effect, ironically keeping you up at night, rather than providing the sleep-inducing benefits it's well-known for.
The claimed benefits of magnesium supplementation range from boosts in everyday wellness — better sleep, increased energy levels and improved mood — to specific health benefits, such as lower blood pressure, reduced risk of heart disease and improvement in migraines.
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.