Hey there!
Welcome to my guide on using magnesium for anxiety, depression, and general mood-boosting.
I’ve spent over 50 hours researching and testing different forms and brands of magnesium and then sorted them based on effects and type.
The good news is that quality magnesium for anxiety and mood-boosting is very affordable and easy to find.
If you’re ready to learn more about the wild world of Magnesium, let’s jump into it!
Best Magnesium For Anxiety and Depression Quick Guide
Magnesium Breakthrough
What Does Magnesium Do
Magnesium is an essential mineral used in the body to maintain homeostasis.
It ensures the correct functioning of all human cells used in more than 300 biochemical reactions in your body.1R Swaminathan. Magnesium metabolism and its disorders Clin Biochem Rev. 2003
These reactions include metabolism, enzymatic activity, ATP production, and making sure other minerals like calcium function properly.2Joel Michels Topf, Patrick T Murray. Hypomagnesemia and hypermagnesemia Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2003
Magnesium is required for optimal nerve transmission. It is involved in the formation of membrane phospholipids, which ultimately gives this powerful mineral a fundamental role in your central nervous system’s correct functioning.3 M F Ryan. The role of magnesium in clinical biochemistry: an overview Ann Clin Bioche. 1991
In short, you need adequate magnesium for your body to function optimally throughout the day.
This is especially true for mental health, as it plays a critical role in brain function and mood.
What Is Magnesium Good For
Because magnesium is necessary for so many biochemical reactions, getting adequate amounts can be helpful for the following conditions:
- Anxiety/Depression
- Sleep problems
- Leg cramps
- Migraines
- Constipation
- Heart health
While we can discuss the full spectrum of metabolic processes that use magnesium, we will stick to its brain benefits for the sake of this article.
Magnesium and The Brain
Adequate magnesium levels are necessary for a well-working brain.
Along with being essential for hundreds of metabolic processes in the body, we also know that magnesium plays a critical role in brain-specific processes like myelination4Takahiro Seyama, et al. Pretreatment with magnesium sulfate attenuates white matter damage by preventing cell death of developing oligodendrocytes J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2018, synaptic formation and maintenance5Qifeng Sun, et al. Regulation of structural and functional synapse density by L-threonate through modulation of intraneuronal magnesium concentration Neuropharmacology. 2016, and regulation of serotoninergic, dopaminergic, and cholinergic transmission.6A A Spasov, et al. Features of central neurotransmission in animals in conditions of dietary magnesium deficiency and after its correction Neurosci Behav Physiol. 2009
There is a lot of evidence that shows magnesium’s effectiveness in enhancing many different aspects of overall cognitive performance.
It’s been shown to increase synaptic plasticity by enhancing neurogenesis and the maturation of newly generated neural cells while increasing neural stem cells’ proliferation.7Chao Wu, et al. Magnesium promotes the viability and induces differentiation of neural stem cells both in vitro and in vivo Neurol Res.2019
These geeky, big worded features of magnesium translate into:8Inna Slutsky, et al. Enhancement of learning and memory by elevating brain magnesium Neuron. 2010
- Enhanced learning abilities,
- Better Working memory
- More Short- and Long-term memory
- Better focus and concentration
- Mood boost
Magnesium For Depression
Magnesium’s mood-boosting effects have been studied extensively in both animals and humans.9Andrea Botturi, et al. The Role and the Effect of Magnesium in Mental Disorders: A Systematic Review Nutrients. 2020
Studies have shown that a diet low in Magnesium is associated with increased depression10Marie-Laure Derom, Carmen Sayón-Orea, José María Martínez-Ortega, Miguel A Martínez-González. Magnesium and depression: a systematic review Nutr Neurosci. 2013
and suicide.11Magdalena Sowa-Kućma, Bernadeta Szewczyk, Krystyna Sadlik, Wojciech Piekoszewski, Franciszek Trela, Włodzimierz Opoka, Ewa Poleszak, Andrzej Pilc, Gabriel Nowak. Zinc, magnesium and NMDA receptor alterations in the hippocampus of suicide victims J Affect Disord. 2013
Magnesium supplementation has been shown to improve cases of major depression12George A Eby, et al. Rapid recovery from major depression using magnesium treatment Med Hypotheses. 2006, mania13D Pavlinac, R Langer, L Lenhard, L Deftos. Magnesium in affective disorders Biol Psychiatry. 1979, bipolar disorder14G Chouinard, L Beauclair, R Geiser, P Etienne. A pilot study of magnesium aspartate hydrochloride (Magnesiocard) as a mood stabilizer for rapid cycling bipolar affective disorder patients Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 1990, and affective symptoms associated with chronic fatigue syndrome15I M Cox, M J Campbell, D Dowson. Red blood cell magnesium and chronic fatigue syndrome Lancet. 1991.
One of magnesium’s most interesting anti-depressant features is its ability to work synergistically with other anti-depressant therapies.16Daan H H M Viering, et al. Genetic causes of hypomagnesemia, a clinical overview Pediatr Nephrol. 2017
In fact, magnesium has shown to have a strong, synergistic effect with ketamine.17Harald Murck. Ketamine, magnesium and major depression–from pharmacology to pathophysiology and back J Psychiatr Res. 2013
While there is quite a bit of evidence for magnesium’s ability to improve humans’ mood disorders, many conflicting data also exist. The relationship between Mg levels and depression is yet to be fully elucidated.18J F CADE. A SIGNIFICANT ELEVATION OF PLASMA MAGNESIUM LEVELS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA AND DEPRESSIVE STATES Med J Aust. 1964
This is mostly due to poor study design.19Neil Bernard Boyle,* Clare Lawton, and Louise Dye. The Effects of Magnesium Supplementation on Subjective Anxiety and Stress—A Systematic Review Nutrients. 2017
The bottom line is that magnesium has many anti-depressant benefits; it hasn’t been expressed well enough in the scientific literature.
Magnesium For Anxiety
Anxiety disorders are often found as a comorbidity with depression.20Zhiguo WU and Yiru FANG. Comorbidity of depressive and anxiety disorders: challenges in diagnosis and assessment, Shanghai Arch Psychiatry. 2014
And like depression, magnesium shows promise as a potent therapy for anxiety.
According to the WHO, anxiety-related conditions are the most common affective disorders present in the general population.21Ronald C Kessler, Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, Jordi Alonso, Somnath Chatterji, Sing Lee, Johan Ormel, T Bedirhan Ustün, Philip S Wang. The global burden of mental disorders: an update from the WHO World Mental Health (WMH) surveys Epidemiol Psichiatr Soc. Jan-Mar 2009
Several clinical studies have shown low serum levels of magnesium in people who experience anxiety.22Felice N Jacka, Simon Overland, Robert Stewart, Grethe S Tell, Ingvar Bjelland, Arnstein Mykletun. Association between magnesium intake and depression and anxiety in community-dwelling adults: the Hordaland Health Study Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2009
Social Anxiety
These nerve-calming attributes can also improve instances of social anxiety.23Victoria Papadopol and Mihai Nechifor. Magnesium in neuroses and neuroticism Adelaide (AU): University of Adelaide Press; 2011.
Magnesium’s ability to modulate glutamate activity and raise GABA makes it akin to a social lubricant.
This is because GABA is the primary neurotransmitter that is raised when consuming alcohol.24Niladri Banerjee. Neurotransmitters in alcoholism: A review of neurobiological and genetic studies Indian J Hum Genet. 2014
Skip the booze at your next party and opt for a hit of magnesium!
Magnesium and Stress
Stress reduction is magnesium’s most prized attribute.
This is important since stress is the basis of most mental and physical health problems.25Loren Toussaint, Grant S Shields, Gabriel Dorn, and George M Slavich. Effects of lifetime stress exposure on mental and physical health in young adulthood: How stress degrades and forgiveness protects health J Health Psychol. 2016
Magnesium modulates the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.26Bonpei Takase, Takashi Akima, Akimi Uehata, Fumitaka Ohsuzu, Akira Kurita. Effect of chronic stress and sleep deprivation on both flow-mediated dilation in the brachial artery and the intracellular magnesium level in humans Clin Cardiol. 2004
The HPA axis is the body’s inherent stress-response system and is responsible for producing stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.27Katja Held, et al. Oral Mg(2+) supplementation reverses age-related neuroendocrine and sleep EEG changes in humans Pharmacopsychiatry. 2002. This doesn’t mean that magnesium will take away your stress, but it will reign in your body’s response to stress. Which means more emotional stability and resilience.27H Murck, A Steiger. Mg2+ reduces ACTH secretion and enhances spindle power without changing delta power during sleep in men — possible therapeutic implications Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1998
How Magnesium Works In The Brain
There are several magnesium-dependant pathways in the brain that may be responsible for its effectiveness.
Along with modulating the HPA axis, magnesium also antagonizes glutamate and NMDA receptor activity, leading to neuronal hyperexcitability.28E J Coan, G L Collingridge Magnesium ions block an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated component of synaptic transmission in rat hippocampusNeurosci Lett. 1985
Reducing glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter can effectively calm the mind and many anxiety-related symptoms at the NMDA receptor.29E J Coan, G L Collingridge. Magnesium ions block an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated component of synaptic transmission in rat hippocampus Neurosci Lett. 1985
This action at the NMDA receptor may also raise GABA levels in the brain, which can induce a calming effect.30R Bruce Lydiard. The role of GABA in anxiety disorders J Clin Psychiatry. 2003
Signs of Magnesium Deficiency
Being magnesium deficient has many health consequences.
The most accurate way to check your status is through blood testing or hair mineral testing.31Dilip Gude. ‘Tracing Elements’ in Hair Int J Trichology. 2011 Jul-Dec
Some tell-tale symptoms may indicate magnesium deficiency including:32Abdullah M. Al Alawi, et al. Magnesium and Human Health: Perspectives and Research Directions Int J Endocrinol. 201833Alin Gragossian; Khalid Bashir; Rotem Friede. Hypomagnesemia StatPearls Publishing; 2020,
- Headaches/Migraines
- Asthma
- Tremors
- Seizures
- Apathy or general malaise
- Heart problems
- Low calcium and potassium
- Low parathyroid
Causes of Magnesium Deficiency
Many causes lead to magnesium deficiency.
Some of the most common include:
- Diet
- Pharmaceutical Drugs
- Genetics
- Metabolic Disorders
Diet
As stated above, the modern, Western food supply is incredibly magnesium deficient.
This is mostly due to processed foods, demineralized water, and agricultural practices using soil deficient in magnesium for growing food.34Jeroen H F de Baaij, et al. Magnesium in man: implications for health and disease Physiol Rev. 2015
Pharmaceutical Drugs
Many popular pharmaceutical drugs have been found to cause hypomagnesia. These include:35. Table 7: Medications associated with hypomagnesemia. Int J Endocrinol. 2018
- Antibiotics
- Antifungals
- Cancer drugs
- Anti-inflammatories
- Diuretics
- Pneumonia Drugs
- Proton Pump Inhibitors
According to the CDC, almost half of all Americans use at least one prescription drug.36CDC. Therapeutic Drug Use Center For Disease Control
One-quarter of Americans use 3 or more.
In short, that means a lot of magnesium deficiencies.
Genetics
Genetics also plays a major role in one’s ability to absorb and utilize magnesium.
Mutations in specific genes can greatly influence your magnesium status.
This is because different genes affect the function of magnesium transport and utilization in the body.
Some gene mutations that correlate to magnesium deficiency disorders include:37Daan H H M Viering, et al. Genetic causes of hypomagnesemia, a clinical overview Pediatr Nephrol. 2017
- Hypercalciuric hypomagnesemia (Genes: CLDN16, CLDN19, CASR, CLCNKB)
- Gitelman syndrome (CLCNKB, SLC12A3, BSND, KCNJ10, FYXD2, HNF1B, PCBD1)
- Mitochondrial hypomagnesemias (SARS2, MT-TI, Kearns-Sayre syndrome)
- Other hypomagnesemias (TRPM6, CNMM2, EGF, EGFR, KCNA1, FAM111A)
You can always check to see if you have any of these genes with a genetics test.
Different Forms Of Magnesium
If you’ve ever shopped for a magnesium supplement, you’ve probably noticed the different forms of magnesium that are readily available.
It’s important to understand the different effects that each form gives.
Different magnesium preparations have different intestinal absorption ability.
Studies have claimed that Organic magnesium supplements (aspartate, citrate, lactate, chloride) have been more bioavailable than inorganic magnesium (oxide, sulfate).38Mohammed S. Razzaque. Magnesium: Are We Consuming Enough? Nutrients. 2018
Here is a quick rundown of some of the more popular forms for supplementation and what they do:
- Magnesium L-threonate – Relatively new compound consists of a magnesium ion and threonate, which exists physiologically in the brain. Shown to increase Magnesium in the CSF significantly. Also a favorite for nootropic purposes.
My Top Magnesium Supplement Recommendation
These days magnesium is not as bioavailable in food as it once was, which is why supplementation is necessary.
Traditionally, people obtained magnesium through foods like leafy green vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, and some animal foods.39. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Research Service
The problem is that there are many magnesium supplements to choose from, and these supplements are not created equal.
Many magnesium supplements are formulated poorly and contain many added fillers, excipients, and added ingredients toxic to the body.
And because there are so many different magnesium forms, it can be hard to pinpoint the one that works best for you.
This is why my number one choice for Magnesium is Magnesium Breakthrough from BioOptimizers.
Magnesium Breakthrough
Magnesium Breakthrough is the most advanced, comprehensive Magnesium formula on the market.
It contains SEVEN forms of magnesium, including:
- Magnesium Threonate
- Magnesium Glycinate
- Magnesium Taurate
- Magnesium Citrate
These magnesium forms’ synergistic effect offers more support to the over 300 magnesium-dependent, metabolic processes in your body and brain.
This is essential for optimizing the mind-body connection.
Most importantly, Magnesium Breakthrough is created from high-quality ingredients and contains no added fillers and toxic ingredients found in most commercially available magnesium supplements.
Learn more about Magnesium Breakthrough and get a discount HERE.
- 1R Swaminathan. Magnesium metabolism and its disorders Clin Biochem Rev. 2003
- 2Joel Michels Topf, Patrick T Murray. Hypomagnesemia and hypermagnesemia Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2003
- 3M F Ryan. The role of magnesium in clinical biochemistry: an overview Ann Clin Bioche. 1991
- 4Takahiro Seyama, et al. Pretreatment with magnesium sulfate attenuates white matter damage by preventing cell death of developing oligodendrocytes J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2018
- 5Qifeng Sun, et al. Regulation of structural and functional synapse density by L-threonate through modulation of intraneuronal magnesium concentration Neuropharmacology. 2016
- 6A A Spasov, et al. Features of central neurotransmission in animals in conditions of dietary magnesium deficiency and after its correction Neurosci Behav Physiol. 2009
- 7Chao Wu, et al. Magnesium promotes the viability and induces differentiation of neural stem cells both in vitro and in vivo Neurol Res.2019
- 8Inna Slutsky, et al. Enhancement of learning and memory by elevating brain magnesium Neuron. 2010
- 9Andrea Botturi, et al. The Role and the Effect of Magnesium in Mental Disorders: A Systematic Review Nutrients. 2020
- 10Marie-Laure Derom, Carmen Sayón-Orea, José María Martínez-Ortega, Miguel A Martínez-González. Magnesium and depression: a systematic review Nutr Neurosci. 2013
- 11Magdalena Sowa-Kućma, Bernadeta Szewczyk, Krystyna Sadlik, Wojciech Piekoszewski, Franciszek Trela, Włodzimierz Opoka, Ewa Poleszak, Andrzej Pilc, Gabriel Nowak. Zinc, magnesium and NMDA receptor alterations in the hippocampus of suicide victims J Affect Disord. 2013
- 12George A Eby, et al. Rapid recovery from major depression using magnesium treatment Med Hypotheses. 2006
- 13D Pavlinac, R Langer, L Lenhard, L Deftos. Magnesium in affective disorders Biol Psychiatry. 1979
- 14G Chouinard, L Beauclair, R Geiser, P Etienne. A pilot study of magnesium aspartate hydrochloride (Magnesiocard) as a mood stabilizer for rapid cycling bipolar affective disorder patients Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 1990
- 15I M Cox, M J Campbell, D Dowson. Red blood cell magnesium and chronic fatigue syndrome Lancet. 1991
- 16Daan H H M Viering, et al. Genetic causes of hypomagnesemia, a clinical overview Pediatr Nephrol. 2017
- 17Harald Murck. Ketamine, magnesium and major depression–from pharmacology to pathophysiology and back J Psychiatr Res. 2013
- 18J F CADE. A SIGNIFICANT ELEVATION OF PLASMA MAGNESIUM LEVELS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA AND DEPRESSIVE STATES Med J Aust. 1964
- 19Neil Bernard Boyle,* Clare Lawton, and Louise Dye. The Effects of Magnesium Supplementation on Subjective Anxiety and Stress—A Systematic Review Nutrients. 2017
- 20Zhiguo WU and Yiru FANG. Comorbidity of depressive and anxiety disorders: challenges in diagnosis and assessment, Shanghai Arch Psychiatry. 2014
- 21Ronald C Kessler, Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, Jordi Alonso, Somnath Chatterji, Sing Lee, Johan Ormel, T Bedirhan Ustün, Philip S Wang. The global burden of mental disorders: an update from the WHO World Mental Health (WMH) surveys Epidemiol Psichiatr Soc. Jan-Mar 2009
- 22Felice N Jacka, Simon Overland, Robert Stewart, Grethe S Tell, Ingvar Bjelland, Arnstein Mykletun. Association between magnesium intake and depression and anxiety in community-dwelling adults: the Hordaland Health Study Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2009
- 23Victoria Papadopol and Mihai Nechifor. Magnesium in neuroses and neuroticism Adelaide (AU): University of Adelaide Press; 2011.
- 24Niladri Banerjee. Neurotransmitters in alcoholism: A review of neurobiological and genetic studies Indian J Hum Genet. 2014
- 25Loren Toussaint, Grant S Shields, Gabriel Dorn, and George M Slavich. Effects of lifetime stress exposure on mental and physical health in young adulthood: How stress degrades and forgiveness protects health J Health Psychol. 2016
- 26Bonpei Takase, Takashi Akima, Akimi Uehata, Fumitaka Ohsuzu, Akira Kurita. Effect of chronic stress and sleep deprivation on both flow-mediated dilation in the brachial artery and the intracellular magnesium level in humans Clin Cardiol. 2004
- 27Katja Held, et al. Oral Mg(2+) supplementation reverses age-related neuroendocrine and sleep EEG changes in humans Pharmacopsychiatry. 2002. This doesn’t mean that magnesium will take away your stress, but it will reign in your body’s response to stress. Which means more emotional stability and resilience.27H Murck, A Steiger. Mg2+ reduces ACTH secretion and enhances spindle power without changing delta power during sleep in men — possible therapeutic implications Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1998
- 28E J Coan, G L Collingridge Magnesium ions block an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated component of synaptic transmission in rat hippocampusNeurosci Lett. 1985
- 29E J Coan, G L Collingridge. Magnesium ions block an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated component of synaptic transmission in rat hippocampus Neurosci Lett. 1985
- 30R Bruce Lydiard. The role of GABA in anxiety disorders J Clin Psychiatry. 2003
- 31Dilip Gude. ‘Tracing Elements’ in Hair Int J Trichology. 2011 Jul-Dec
- 32Abdullah M. Al Alawi, et al. Magnesium and Human Health: Perspectives and Research Directions Int J Endocrinol. 2018
- 33Alin Gragossian; Khalid Bashir; Rotem Friede. Hypomagnesemia StatPearls Publishing; 2020
- 34Jeroen H F de Baaij, et al. Magnesium in man: implications for health and disease Physiol Rev. 2015
- 35. Table 7: Medications associated with hypomagnesemia. Int J Endocrinol. 2018
- 36CDC. Therapeutic Drug Use Center For Disease Control
- 37Daan H H M Viering, et al. Genetic causes of hypomagnesemia, a clinical overview Pediatr Nephrol. 2017
- 38Mohammed S. Razzaque. Magnesium: Are We Consuming Enough? Nutrients. 2018
- 39. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Research Service
It does not include Magnesium Threonate because that patented form cannot combined with other forms of Magnesium per the patent.