Magnesium is one of the most important elements for numerous physiological and biological body functions. In case you have a low magnesium blood level, you should ask your doctor for magnesium supplements. In this article, we discuss the best time to take magnesium supplements.
- Importance of magnesium.
- What is the best time to take magnesium supplements?
- What is the best time to take magnesium glycinate?
- When to take magnesium supplements before or after a meal?
- Can I take magnesium supplements with coffee?
- Can I take magnesium supplements with other medications?
- Summary
Importance of magnesium
- You have to keep your magnesium blood level within the normal range. This s because a low magnesium blood level is associated with numerous side effects and health problems.
- The recommended daily dose of magnesium is about 310-420 mg per day. Unfortunately, more than 40 % of adult Americans fail to reach the recommended daily dose.
- Therefore, magnesium supplements are widely used to fill this gap and cover the low intake of magnesium in the diet.
Improve sleep
Magnesium is an essential element to help you relax and sleep. An optimum blood level of magnesium is required for normal and regular sleep.
Required for strong bone
Magnesium helps to avoid the development of osteoporosis, especially after menopause. Magnesium helps to increase bone density and reduce bone loss.
Important for a healthy heart:
- One important function of magnesium is to regulate muscle contractions.
- A normal magnesium blood level is required for a healthy well-functioning heart.
- It is important for maintaining normal blood pressure.
Important for many biological functions
- Act as a cofactor for more than 300 enzymes
- Important for energy production
- Synthesis of nuclear materials
- Essential for active transmembrane transport for other ions
What is the best time to take magnesium supplements?
- The effect of magnesium supplements depends mainly on their long-term usage.
- It doesn’t matter at what time of day you take them. But for how long do you take magnesium supplements on a consistent schedule?
- You can take magnesium supplements in the morning, before bedtime, or any time you prefer.
- In some cases, it is advised to take magnesium supplements before your breakfast. This could help you to remember to take them regularly.
- When you take magnesium supplements at a regular time, this could help you to keep regular blood levels of magnesium.
What is the best time to take magnesium glycinate?
- Magnesium glycinate is a magnesium supplement that helps you to relax and sleep.
- For this reason, magnesium is called natural calm magnesium. It facilitates the release of melatonin, the hormone responsible for sleep regulation
- When you are using magnesium supplements to improve sleep and for the treatment of insomnia such as Magnesium glycinate, you should take your medications near bedtime (1 or 2 hours before sleeping) to help you relax and initiate sleep.
When to take magnesium supplements before or after a meal?
- Oral magnesium supplements are commonly associated with gastrointestinal upset.
- Nausea, vomiting, and stomach upset are the most common symptoms after oral magnesium supplements.
- Therefore, it is better to take magnesium supplements near your mealtime
You have to know that:
- Some magnesium supplements are used for their laxative effects such as magnesium oxide. when you take magnesium supplements for this action, you have to take them on an empty stomach (one hour before a meal or two hours after meals) with a glass of water for better action.
Can I take magnesium supplements with coffee?
- Coffee and other caffeinated beverages have a diuretic effect, thus could increase the magnesium loss in urine.
- So, in case you are a coffee drinker, it is better to take magnesium supplements after finishing your coffee or at a different time period away from coffee (Ref).
Can I take magnesium supplements with other medications?
- Magnesium like many other medications can lead to drug-drug interactions.
- You should avoid taking magnesium with iron because magnesium reduces the absorption of iron supplements.
- Also, you have to avoid concurrent administration of magnesium with the following medications:
- Iron
- Ciprofloxacin
- Tetracycline
- Vancomycin
- Isoniazid
- Nitrofurantoin
- Trimethoprim
- Chlorpromazine
- Sodium fluoride
- Magnesium reduces the absorption of the mentioned medications.
- You can take magnesium 2-3 hours before or after these medications
Summary
- Magnesium supplements can be taken at different time
- The effect of magnesium supplements depends mostly on long-term usage for obtaining a normal blood level of magnesium
- If you are taking magnesium to relax and sleep such as magnesium glycinate, it is better to take your medications 1-2 hours before bedtime
- Magnesium for laxative effects such as magnesium oxide should be taken on an empty stomach with a glass of water.
- Oral magnesium supplements commonly cause nausea, vomiting, and stomach upset. you should take them near your mealtime.
- You should avoid taking magnesium supplements with drinking coffee, caffeine increases magnesium loss
- Magnesium could lead to drug-drug interactions with many concurrent administered medications.
Read more about
What causes low magnesium and potassium?
Symptoms of low magnesium and potassium
How to correct magnesium deficiency?
What drugs cause low potassium levels?
Magnesium deficiency symptoms in females
