It has been called the “mineral of the moment.” Millions of people around the world are taking magnesium for a variety of reasons: for sleep, digestion, or mental calm. In the increasingly dynamic world of nutritional supplements, it seems that the time has come for magnesium to shine. The industry is booming. The global magnesium market is estimated at around £3 billion, and is expected to double in the next decade.
In a small factory in Britain's Yorkshire Dales, huge barrels of white powder – magnesium citrate – fill the space alongside machines that churn nonstop. Workers, clad in protective gear, carefully measure the amount of the mineral that is then fed into machines to produce millions of tablets every day.
“We ship our magnesium all over the world – to Australia, Asia, even the Middle East,” explains Andrew Goring, director of Lonsdale Health. “The demand is growing every year. It’s one of our best-selling products.”
But do we really need it? And why has it become so popular now?
"Influencers and social media have done their part," Goring adds. "Magnesium has always been important, but now it's back in vogue."
What does magnesium actually do?
According to Kirsten Jackson, a dietitian specializing in digestive health, magnesium's popularity is the result of clever marketing campaigns.
“Magnesium is linked to areas where people are willing to invest: sleep, digestion, and mental health,” she says. “But that doesn’t mean we all need supplements.”
Magnesium is an essential mineral for the human body. The recommended daily allowance is 270 mg for women and 300 mg for men, while the body stores about 25 grams in total. This mineral helps maintain normal brain and nervous system function, regulates blood pressure, balances sugar levels, and helps the heart beat by controlling calcium and potassium in cells.
However, to really benefit from the effect, our body must be deficient in magnesium - something that is difficult to test for, since most of it is stored in bones and tissues.
"I started sleeping better" – personal experience
Katie Curran, a communications specialist who has worked for top fashion brands, says magnesium helped her improve her sleep.
“A year ago I couldn't sleep. I would fall asleep very late, my mind would be working non-stop,” she says. After two weeks of taking magnesium glycine (270 mg per day), she felt a difference.
"My thoughts calmed down, I started sleeping longer, and I felt more energetic. I can't pin it down to just one thing, but I think magnesium was a big part of the improvement."
However, the science is not entirely in agreement. Although magnesium deficiency can affect sleep, there is not enough evidence that supplements necessarily improve sleep quality in healthy people.
A growing market, but with a lot of uncertainty
On social media, posts about magnesium have gone viral. Influencers promote different forms of the mineral: Magnesium glycinate and L-threonate – for the brain, sleep, and stress;
Magnesium chloride – for muscle tension and menstrual cramps;
Magnesium citrate or oxide – for digestion and constipation.
But, according to nutritionist Kristen Stavridis, the scientific evidence is inconsistent. "A lot of studies are conflicting. Some show benefits, some don't. And for it to work, you have to be really magnesium deficient," she points out.
According to data, about 10% of men and 20% of women fail to get the recommended daily dose, but this does not make the use of supplements necessary for everyone.
“We can’t solve every problem with a pill,” warns Stavridis. “If you regularly consume magnesium-rich foods — seeds, nuts, whole grains, vegetables, and fruits — your body gets everything it needs.”
She adds that excessive magnesium intake can cause nausea, diarrhea, and even serious consequences for those suffering from kidney disease, due to increased magnesium levels in the blood (hypermagnesemia).
"Start with diet, not supplements"
Dietitian Kirsten Jackson completely agrees:
"Most people should 100% start with diet. If you're not eating enough magnesium-rich foods, you're likely lacking other essential vitamins — like C, K, fiber, and prebiotics." So before you add another pill to your routine, experts advise looking at your daily plate.
A balanced diet, rich in seeds, nuts, green vegetables, and whole grains, may be the best “supplement” there is. “A magnesium tablet can’t fix all poor nutrition,” Jackson concludes.
