Many consumers fail to get adequate amounts of magnesium, an important mineral that plays an essential role in various health issues.
 
Some people may also have lower levels of this essential mineral due to certain medical conditions or the use of common medications such as Nexium and Prilosec.
 
People who do not get the recommended amount of magnesium may benefit from a supplement. There are many different forms of magnesium—some of which are better-absorbed, or less likely to cause side effects, than others, and products may be contaminated with toxic heavy metals such lead, cadmium and arsenic, according to ConsumerLab, which purchased and tested popular magnesium supplements sold in the U.S. and Canada.
 
Products included tablets, capsules, powders, and a liquid. One product was discovered to contain nearly 20% less magnesium per serving than listed on the label (and now appears to be the subject of a recall). A second magnesium supplement was found to be contaminated with lead. The cost to obtain magnesium from the reviewed products ranged by over 1,000%. 

Among the products that were Approved, ConsumerLab selected a Top Pick that provides a stable, well-absorbed form of magnesium, without contamination, and at very good value. 

The results are available online in ConsumerLab’s new Magnesium Supplements Review which includes test results and comparisons for 17 products. Twelve products were selected for testing by ConsumerLab: 365 Magnesium Cherry Fizz, BulkSupplements.com Magnesium Citrate, Designs For Health Magnesium Malate, Doctor’s Best High Absorption Magnesium, Jamieson Magnesium Ultra Strength 250 mg, KAL Magnesium Glycinate 400, Mag-Ox 400, Mag-Tab SR, NOW Magnesium Citrate, ReMag, Swanson Chelated Magnesium and Vitacost Magnesium Citrate. Another five products were tested and approved through CL’s voluntary Quality Certification Program: Carlson Chelated Magnesium, GNC Magnesium 500 mg, Jigsaw Health MagSRT, Pure Encapsulations UltraMag Magnesium and Solgar Chelated Magnesium. 

The review explains the importance of getting adequate magnesium and how it can be obtained from foods. It summarizes the clinical evidence for and against magnesium supplementation for bone and cardiovascular health, glucose control, migraine, muscle pain, leg cramps, memory, depression and other uses. It explains who should take magnesium and how much to take, the differences between various forms of (magnesium, including magnesium aspartate and orotate, magnesium citrate, magnesium chloride, magnesium oxide, magnesium-L-threonate and others) and what to look for on labels. Potential side effects and drug interactions with magnesium are also discussed.