8 Benefits, Plus Side Effects

Magnesium chloride is a form of magnesium salt used as a supplement for people who do not get enough magnesium from their diet. Magnesium regulates several important bodily functions, including blood pressure, blood sugar, lipid levels, bone development, and energy.

Dark green, leafy vegetables are a primary food source of magnesium. Other good sources include bananas, nuts like almonds and cashews, and whole grains. The recommended daily amount for magnesium is up to 320 milligrams in females and 420 milligrams in males. If you cannot meet this amount through food, magnesium supplements can help.

Magnesium has been found to help lower blood pressure. One study found that magnesium may also help prevent hypertension (high blood pressure). More research is needed to confirm this benefit.

Oral magnesium chloride was found to help lower blood pressure in adults with magnesium deficiency, low magnesium levels in the body. Researchers also found that about 385 milligrams of magnesium chloride effectively lowered blood pressure.

Magnesium plays a significant role in bone health, especially bone healing. Researchers found that magnesium might help slow age-related loss of skeletal muscle, which may help prevent falls, fractures, and osteoporosis (weak and brittle bones).

Magnesium chloride might also help form new bones. However, magnesium should be used with caution as very high doses could be harmful to the bones. High levels of magnesium in the body can break down bone cells while slowing down the formation of new bones.

Magnesium can also affect electrical activities in the heart. People with atrial fibrillation (a type of heart rhythm disorder) or people with premature heartbeat often have low magnesium levels. Supplementing with magnesium alongside other recommended treatments may help correct abnormal heart rhythm.

In older studies, magnesium chloride, given intravenously (through the vein), helped reduce the frequency of ventricular arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeats in the lower part of the heart) in people with heart failure. It is unclear whether oral magnesium offers this benefit.

Magnesium may also benefit other heart conditions. Taking an additional 100 milligrams of magnesium daily has been shown to reduce stroke risk by about 2-13%. Some studies have found up to a 22% lower risk of stroke. Talk with your healthcare provider before beginning or changing your magnesium dose.

Magnesium can also help regulate blood sugar. Oral magnesium supplements reduce insulin resistance and improve insulin sensitivity, which may help your body respond better to blood sugar-lowering medications.

The evidence that magnesium can improve blood sugar control in people with diabetes is conflicting, so more research is needed before it can be recommended for this purpose.

Magnesium supplements may help reduce anxiety symptoms in adults with mild-to-moderate anxiety, but the quality of evidence is poor. In one study, people who took 248 milligrams of magnesium chloride daily for six weeks saw significantly improved anxiety and depression symptoms.

Talk to your healthcare provider about taking magnesium for your anxiety symptoms. They can discuss whether it’s the right choice for you and outline other available treatment options and management strategies.

Magnesium can help lower your pain sensitivity. It does this by blocking signals that make you extra sensitive to pain. One study found that a topical (on skin) application of magnesium oil, made from a mixture of magnesium chloride flakes and water, helped reduce pain in people living with fibromyalgia, a chronic condition characterized by pain and fatigue.

Magnesium can also help with other types of pain, such as menstrual pain, headaches, and acute migraine attacks.

Magnesium has been found to help regulate lipid profiles, especially in people at risk of prediabetes. One study found that 30 milliliters of a 5% magnesium chloride solution, taken once daily for four months, decreased triglycerides (blood fats) and increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, known as “good” cholesterol.

Several studies show that magnesium may significantly increase HDL levels, supporting heart health. However, not every study agrees on how effectively magnesium lowers total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, known as “bad” cholesterol.

Magnesium chloride increases the amount of water in your intestines. This can help stimulate bowel movements and relieve constipation. However, magnesium oxide appears to have better laxative effects and is more widely studied for this purpose.

Magnesium chloride is a highly soluble form of magnesium salt that dissolves completely in water. Other common types of magnesium supplements include magnesium sulfate, magnesium oxide, magnesium citrate, magnesium glycinate, magnesium aspartate, and magnesium lactate.

Studies show that the body absorbs magnesium chloride more completely, which is more readily available for the body to use than the oxide and sulfate forms. Magnesium chloride and oxide forms are also more likely to cause diarrhea than other types of magnesium supplements.

The magnesium you get from food does not pose a health risk, even when consumed in excess, because the kidneys remove any extra in the urine. High doses of magnesium chloride found in supplements can lead to side effects like diarrhea and abdominal cramps.

Very high doses of magnesium chloride can lead to magnesium toxicity. Common symptoms of magnesium toxicity include:

• Facial flushing
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Urine retention
• Difficulty breathing
• Muscle weakness
• Irregular heartbeat

The risk of magnesium toxicity is higher in people with impaired kidney function because the ability to remove excess magnesium is reduced or lost. If you have any kidney problems or are at risk of developing kidney failure, talk to your healthcare provider before using magnesium supplements.

Magnesium chloride can effectively raise magnesium levels and is a good source for people who do not get enough of this mineral from their diet. Magnesium chloride is highly soluble and easily absorbed by the body.

While magnesium chloride is generally tolerable, taking more than the recommended dose might lead to magnesium toxicity. If you have any kidney impairment or a family history of chronic kidney disease, it may be best to use magnesium after talking to your health provider.