Magnesium and calcium in supplements should not be taken together because the absorption of the two minerals can cancel each other out. It is best if the minerals are taken at different times, for example, one mineral in the morning and one in the evening.
Let's start with the basic questions – yes, you can take magnesium and calcium together. These minerals work synergistically to promote bone health and much more. There are also other minerals and vitamins that you can take simultaneously that are believed to improve the absorption of these chemical compounds.
Why Are Calcium and Magnesium So Important? Calcium and magnesium work together to support a whole bunch of bodily functions. For starters, they help the cells produce energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Plus, they act as electrolytes in the body to support healthy hydration.
Take-away: Calcium and magnesium may best be taken in the evening with food or before nighttime sleep. Since zinc should not be taken with calcium and apart from iron, it is most useful if taken earlier in the day either slightly before/after food.
It's also a good idea to take your calcium supplements at a different time from your multivitamin or an iron-rich meal. Calcium can affect how your body absorbs iron, zinc and magnesium.
Magnesium and calcium/multivitamin
But if you do take magnesium, Erin Stokes, ND, recommends not taking it at the same time as your multivitamin, as it may interfere with the absorption of smaller minerals found in the multivitamin, like iron and zinc.
Calcium should be taken in the morning (about 1 hour after breakfast) or in the afternoon with plenty of water, giving us the opportunity to be exposed to more sunlight (the skin synthesizes vitamin D for the body). ), which helps to absorb calcium more efficiently.
How should you take calcium and magnesium? Take your calcium and magnesium separately. Take your calcium with meals and your magnesium 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals. I (usually) suggest taking magnesium at bed time.
Since magnesium works closely with calcium, it is important to have an appropriate ratio of both minerals in order for them to be effective. A good rule of thumb is a 2:1 calcium-to-magnesium ratio. For example, if you take 1000mg of calcium, you should also take 500mg of magnesium.
As discussed earlier, however, taking large amounts of minerals with other minerals will reduce absorption. To maximize your calcium and magnesium supplement benefits, aim to take them at least 2 hours apart.
You can take vitamin D, calcium and magnesium together -- either in supplements or in food that contains all three nutrients (such as milk) -- but you don't have to. Adequate levels of vitamin D help your body absorb calcium, but the vitamin and mineral need not be taken at the same time.
4. Calcium. Taking calcium at night does not affect your sleep but can reduce the effectiveness of another supplement, magnesium, which promotes relaxation and is often recommended to be taken at night. It is a good idea to take magnesium before bed because it can help you sleep.
Mg is essential in the metabolism of vitamin D, and taking large doses of vitamin D can induce severe depletion of Mg. Adequate magnesium supplementation should be considered as an important aspect of vitamin D therapy.
Calcium carbonate, found in over-the-counter antacids, is a cheap and effective calcium source. However, antacids may also contain aluminum, sodium or sugar, which could be an issue for some patients. Calcium citrate is slightly more expensive, but it is more easily absorbed by the body, especially in older people.
Avoid taking calcium supplements with very high fiber meals. Fiber can bind with calcium, reducing the amount available to your body. Don't take more than 500 to 600 mg at a time – your body is not able to absorb much more and it will be excreted in the urine.
Spinach and Other Foods with Oxalates
Your body doesn't absorb calcium well from foods that are high in oxalates (oxalic acid) such as spinach. Other foods with oxalates are rhubarb, beet greens and certain beans. These foods contain other healthy nutrients, but they just shouldn't be counted as sources of calcium.
Your body must be able to absorb the calcium for it to be effective. All varieties of calcium supplements are better absorbed when taken in small doses (500 mg or less) at mealtimes.
However, research published in August 2019 in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that taking calcium and vitamin D supplements together might increase your risk of having a stroke. This finding was published in a review of what's currently known about the effects of supplements on our health.
The average adult needs 1,000 mg of calcium per day. The amount increases to 1,200 mg per day for women over the age of 50 and men over the age of 71.
Calcium has been shown to play a significant role in our sleep cycles, particularly the REM stage of sleep. Because calcium helps the body use the amino acid tryptophan (the oft-cited culprit of the supposed post-turkey sleepiness on Thanksgiving), it has a sedative effect that helps ease the body into sleep.
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with MAGNESIUM. Magnesium might slow blood clotting. Taking magnesium along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.
Magnesium and zinc
All minerals and vitamins need the proper conditions for your body to absorb them properly. When taken together, magnesium and zinc have mutual benefits. Magnesium helps your body regulate its zinc levels, while zinc does the job of allowing it to absorb magnesium more effectively.
Phytates in the diet bind to magnesium and impair its absorption. However the quantities present in normal diet do not affect magnesium absorption. Other dietary factors that are thought to affect magnesium absorption are oxalate, phosphate, proteins, potassium and zinc.
Combining multiple supplements or taking higher-than-recommended doses can increase the risk that they can cause harm, said Kitchin. "You really can't get toxic doses of nutrients through food, but you can absolutely get toxic doses through supplements," Kitchin said.