Magnesium Supplements

Glycinate vs citrate vs oxide — what the evidence supports.

#1Pure Encapsulations Magnesium Glycinate 120mg
$30-$38 / 180ct · 4.7★

Practitioner-grade magnesium glycinate. Higher purity, fewer fillers.

  • Third-party tested for purity/potency
  • Hypoallergenic — no excipients
  • Trusted by clinicians (Pure is a Nestlé Health Science brand)
#2Nature Made Magnesium Glycinate
$12-$20 · 4.7★

Drugstore-trusted glycinate at a fair price — easy on the stomach.

  • Gentle glycinate form
  • USP-verified brand
  • Widely available everywhere
#3Doctor's Best High Absorption Magnesium Glycinate 200mg
$15-$22 / 240ct · 4.6★

Chelated magnesium glycinate. Best price-per-mg in the glycinate category.

  • Chelated form — high absorption, no GI distress
  • TRAACS-licensed (verified amino acid chelate)
  • Cheapest verified glycinate per mg
#4NOW Foods Magnesium Citrate
$10-$16 / 250ct · 4.6★

High-dose magnesium citrate caps. Cheapest path to hitting your magnesium target.

  • Very low cost per dose
  • Well-absorbed citrate form
  • GMP-certified facility
#5Thorne Magnesium Bisglycinate Powder
$40-$48 · 4.6★

Practitioner-grade bisglycinate powder — flexible dosing, high absorption.

  • Powder = dial your exact dose
  • NSF / clinician-trusted brand
  • Highly absorbable bisglycinate
#6Natural Vitality CALM Magnesium Powder
$25-$35 · 4.5★

Effervescent magnesium citrate drink marketed for evening wind-down.

  • Pleasant warm-drink ritual before bed
  • Flexible, scalable dosing
  • Hugely popular and reviewed

Frequently Asked Questions

How much magnesium should I take?

The RDA is 320–420 mg/day. Most active adults get 200–250 mg from food. Supplementing 200–400 mg of elemental magnesium glycinate covers the gap safely.

Why does cheap magnesium give me diarrhea?

You probably bought oxide or citrate. Both pull water into the gut at higher doses. Glycinate or malate sidestep this.

Does magnesium really improve sleep?

Modestly, yes — meta-analyses show ~17 minutes of improved sleep onset and better subjective sleep quality, especially in older adults and those who are deficient.