Nowadays, millions of people are taking magnesium for everything, such as smoother digestion and better sleep, to achieve calmer and relaxed minds. Magnesium has become a global wellbeing supplement. The market, worth several billion pounds, is expected to double within a decade. At Lonsdale Health in the Yorkshire Dales, workers in protective suits fill containers with magnesium citrate. This factory is one of the company’s biggest sellers. “The market just keeps growing,” says managing director Andrew Goring, who credits social media for its surge.
Dietician Kirsten Jackson, a gut health specialist, said that the rise of magnesium supplements is driven by “clever marketing of magnesium. It is tied to things people are willing to spend on: mental health, sleep, and digestion.” She also stressed that supplements aren’t automatically necessary. Though magnesium makes up less than 1% of the human body, it plays a vital role in more than 300 biochemical reactions. It helps nerve health, regulates blood pressure, balances blood sugar, supports heart rhythm, and stabilizes mood. Adults need approximately 270mg/day for women and 300mg/day for men. Supplements of magnesium only help if people are deficient. These deficiencies are hard to detect because most magnesium is stored in tissues and bones.
Katie Curran, a communications professional who struggled with insomnia, reported improved sleep and mental clarity after taking 270 mg of magnesium glycinate daily for two weeks. However, such experiences remain anecdotal and not universally supported by scientific evidence. She said, “I can’t say magnesium fixed everything, but it was part of the puzzle.” There was no scientific evidence available that magnesium supplements benefit healthy individuals. Social media influencers promote different magnesium formulations for specific benefits: magnesium with L-threonate and glycinate for brain and stress health, with chloride for muscle cramps, and with citrate and oxide for digestion.
Nutritionist Kristen Stavridis warns that marketing often oversells magnesium. She also said, “Quick, take this pill. But only about 10% of males and 20% of females fall short of recommended magnesium levels. For most people, food sources are sufficient.” Even if the supplements work, they can interact with other nutrients. For example, Zinc can reduce magnesium absorption. Overdosing on this magnesium can lead to nausea or diarrhea. It can be life-threatening in patients with kidney disease.
Both Stavridis and Jackson agreed that diet comes first. Magnesium-rich foods include nuts, fruits, leafy vegetables, whole grains, and seeds. Those lacking such foods likely miss other nutrients too. Jackson also stated that “one magnesium supplement won’t fix health.” Stavridis advised starting with half the recommended dose of magnesium and monitoring how the person feels. If your diet already contains plenty of magnesium, extra pills may turn into what she calls “expensive urine.”
Magnesium is an essential mineral and prioritizes a balanced diet rich in nuts, fruits, seeds, and leafy vegetables, since one magnesium supplement can’t replace a balanced, nutritious diet.
Reference: Clegg R. Magnesium: Can this ‘miracle mineral’ really help us sleep? BBC News. Published October 25, 2025. Accessed October 27, 2025. Magnesium: Can this “miracle mineral” really help us sleep?
