Growing up as kids, you always heard about drinking milk to get your calcium and eating bananas to get your potassium. But something you never really heard about is getting enough of a different mineral…Magnesium. Which is crazy when you think about it. Health surveys have found 48% of Americans of all ages are not consuming the recommended amount of magnesium in their diet [1].
Magnesium might be the unsung hero of all the minerals. It’s a cofactor in over 300 enzyme systems and plays a role in important processes including:
- Protein synthesis
- Muscle function
- Nerve function
- Bone building
- Energy production
- Heart function
- DNA synthesis
- …and more
Read More: Magnesium: Under The Microscope
Since most of us aren’t getting enough magnesium through food, a magnesium supplement may be a good option. With thousands of magnesium supplements to choose from, it can feel daunting to know which one to choose. That’s where I can help. I’m a Registered Dietitian who has scoured the realm of magnesium supplements and chosen the best ones for various categories. The winners of these categories were based on a few different factors:
- Popularity – Sales and customer reviews
- Dose – Higher doses near 100% Daily Value
- Format – Taste is a big factor
The Top Magnesium Supplements Picks
- Best Overall GNC Super Magnesium 400 mg | Skip to review
- Best Powder GNC Magnesium Powder – Lemon | Skip to review
- Best Gummies Lifeable – Magnesium Citrate 250mg – 90 Gummies | Skip to review
- Best Liquid Trace Minerals Research Ionic Magnesium| Skip to review
- Best for Absorption GNC Super Magnesium 400 mg| Skip to review
- Best Magnesium Glycinate Pills Codeage – Liposomal Magnesium Glycinate – 120 Capsules | Skip to review
- Best Magnesium Glycinate Powder CODEAGE Liposomal Magnesium Glycinate Powder – Unflavored – 3oz | Skip to review
- Best Magnesium Citrate GNC Magnesium Soft Chews 250 mg – Strawberry | Skip to review
- Best Magnesium Oxide GNC Magnesium Capsules 500 mg | Skip to review
- Best Magnesium Taurate Codeage – Liposomal Magnesium Taurate – 120 Vegetable Capsules | Skip to review
Key Features
- Supplement Type: Capsules
- Magnesium Form: Aspartate, Lactate, Citrate
- Serving Size: 2 capsules
- Magnesium per Serving: 400mg (95% DV)
- Servings per Container: 45
- Retail Price*: $19.99
- Price per Serving*: $0.44
GNC Super Magnesium wins the best overall magnesium supplement for two big reasons: It’s GNC’s best-selling magnesium and it combines premium forms of magnesium. It provides 400mg of magnesium from 3 highly absorbable forms: Aspartate, Lactate, and Citrate. It’s also gluten free and contains no dairy or soy.
Key Features
- Supplement Type: Powder
- Magnesium Form: Citrate, Carbonate
- Serving Size: 1 scoop
- Magnesium per Serving: 325mg (77% daily value)
- Servings per Container: 84
- Retail Price: $29.99
- Price per Serving: $0.36
GNC’s Magnesium Powder is a great option for incorporating magnesium into your favorite beverage, mixed into water, a smoothie, or the trendy sleepy girl mocktail. It provides 325mg of magnesium from two types (citrate and carbonate), which is 77% of the daily value. It’s naturally flavored and only has 5 calories. The lemon flavor is yummy too!
Key Features
- Supplement Type: Gummies
- Magnesium Form: Citrate
- Serving Size: 3 gummies
- Magnesium per Serving: 250mg (60% daily value)
- Servings per Container: 30
- Retail Price*: $18.99
- Price per Serving*: $0.63
Bursting with fruit flavor, you’ll love the Lifeable Magnesium Citrate Gummies. They provide 250mg of magnesium citrate per 3 gummy serving. What makes these gummies different from many other gummies on the market – is they’re vegan! No gelatin here.
Key Features
- Supplement Type: Liquid
- Magnesium Form: Ionic Magnesium
- Serving Size: 4 droppers
- Magnesium per Serving: 400mg
- Servings per Container: 30
- Retail Price*: $24.99
- Price per Serving*: $0.83
Trace Minerals Research Ionic Magnesium is America’s #1 Liquid Magnesium Brand according to the label. In a concentrated liquid, it provides 400mg of magnesium plus 1120mg of chloride, 10mg sodium, 5mg potassium, 90mg sulfate, and 1.5mg boron. It also contains over 72 naturally-occurring ionic trace minerals from ConcenTrace®, the trade name for concentrated sea minerals from the Great Salt Lake. Plus it’s Non GMO Project Verified and Vegan.
Because of all the minerals, it does have a very strong flavor, so I recommend mixing it into water or juice.
Key Features
- Supplement Type: Capsules
- Magnesium Form: Aspartate, Lactate, Citrate
- Serving Size: 2 capsules
- Magnesium per Serving: 400mg (95% DV)
- Servings per Container: 45
- Retail Price*: $19.99
- Price per Serving*: $0.44
Not only did GNC Super Magnesium win the best overall magnesium supplement, it also won the best absorption category as well. As GNC’s best-selling magnesium, it provides 400mg of magnesium from 3 highly absorbable forms of magnesium: Aspartate, Lactate, and Citrate. It’s also gluten free and contains no dairy or soy.
Key Features
- Supplement Type: Capsules
- Magnesium Form: Glycinate & Oxide
- Serving Size: 4 capsules
- Magnesium per Serving: 350mg (83% daily value)
- Servings per Container: 30
- Retail Price*: $29.99
- Price per Serving*: $1.00
Codeage Liposomal Magnesium Glycinate utilizes a bioavailable form of liposomal magnesium glycinate, which is a chelated form of magnesium bound to the amino acid glycine. It provides 350mg of magnesium plus 5mg of BioPerine® black pepper fruit extract. It’s vegan, non-GMO, soy free, dairy free, and gluten free.
Key Features
- Supplement Type: Capsules
- Magnesium Form: Glycinate & Oxide
- Serving Size: 4 capsules
- Magnesium per Serving: 350mg (83% daily value)
- Servings per Container: 30
- Retail Price*: $29.99
- Price per Serving*: $1.00
Codeage wins the glycinate category again, but with their powdered form. Codeage Liposomal Magnesium Glycinate provides 200mg of magnesium from BiomagTM Bisglycinate Chelate. It’s gluten free, non-GMO, soy free, and unflavored…making it an easy addition into your favorite drink or smoothie. Try it in this delicious and trendy Sleepy Girl Mocktail Recipe.
Key Features
- Supplement Type: Soft Chew
- Magnesium Form: Citrate
- Serving Size: 2 soft chews
- Magnesium per Serving: 250mg (60% daily value)
- Servings per Container: 30
- Retail Price*: $19.99
- Price per Serving*: $0.67
If you’re looking for a fun way to get your daily magnesium, you HAVE to try GNC’s Magnesium Soft Chews. They’re individually wrapped, making them convenient and easy to take on the go. Each serving provides 250mg of magnesium citrate, a form of magnesium that is absorbed more easily by the body, so you get the maximum benefits. Not only are they a yummy strawberry flavor, but it’s also 0g sugar
Key Features
- Supplement Type: Capsules
- Magnesium Form: Oxide
- Serving Size: 1 capsule
- Magnesium per Serving: 500mg (119% daily value)
- Servings per Container: 120
- Retail Price*: $14.99
- Price per Serving*: $0.12
At just 12 cents per serving, GNC’s Magnesium 500mg is a great option for those on a budget. It provides 500mg of magnesium oxide, which is 119% of the daily value. It’s also gluten free and contains no soy or dairy.
Key Features
- Supplement Type: Capsules
- Magnesium Form: Magnesium Taurate
- Serving Size: 2 capsules
- Magnesium per Serving: 300mg (71% daily value)
- Servings per Container: 60
- Retail Price: $39.99
- Price per Serving: $0.67
Codeage Liposomal Magnesium Taurate provides a bioavailable form of magnesium, called magnesium taurate. It combines 300mg of magnesium plus 10mg of vitamin B6. It’s also vegan, Non-GMO, soy free, dairy free, and gluten free.
Reference
- Magnesium Health Professional Fact Sheet. National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Accessed March 2024. Magnesium – Health Professional Fact Sheet (nih.gov)