Why the Hype Around Magnesium on Social Media Is Exaggerated
Celebrity health and social media trends have landed people in the hospital , turned them Max blue , and caused other unwanted side effects. But when it comes to supplements, some people actually find relief by taking them, and they can be included in legitimate care plans, and magnesium is very popular in the wellness space right now. So is it really worth taking, or are people just rushing to cash in on the next boom based on scant scientific evidence?
The magnesium deficiency industrial complex began in earnest with the launch of expensive topical sprays in the 2010s , and the supplement has had a lasting and growing influence in the health world ever since. With more than 10 different options of readily available, over-the-counter formulations, magnesium supplements represent a $100 million market and are part of an even larger global mineral supplements sector worth billions of dollars. Is it just money-seeking hype, or are these supplements really worth taking?
What is magnesium and who needs it?
Magnesium is an important electrolyte. It is an alkaline elemental metal (little number 12 on the periodic table) and, like many electrolytes that are earth metals, the human body has a preferred amount that it needs to incorporate into its functions.
Magnesium is something you may be deficient in , and recent studies show that many Americans are getting less than the recommended amount. But before you start taking supplements, remember that magnesium can also make you poop your pants pretty easily if you take too much—just ask anyone who’s had to ingest it specifically to prepare for surgery. Our urinary and digestive systems quickly try to eliminate excess magnesium, which can both prevent and contribute to magnesium deficiency in different organisms, even at different times.
According to Vice , doctors attribute the current mineral frenzy to increased health awareness during the pandemic, but it appears that a rise in anxiety and increased awareness of sleep problems may also be behind the noise. Since 2021, there has been an increase in awareness of sleep quality, even resulting in a government grant to improve sleep.
Magnesium glycinate in particular is being heavily promoted on tTikTok , with adherents claiming it will improve your sleep, stop muscle spasms, and maybe even calm anxiety, which is a fairly common health issue on the platform.
Whether the TikTok thing is that magnesium is the star of the show right now or it actually helps people, here are some things you should know before clicking that link in the bio.
Does it matter what form of magnesium you take?
It’s actually really cool that we’ve identified all these different ways to make magnesium available to the body. Take magnesium glycinate for example; It is currently the most talked about format and plays a role in enzymatic functions including DNA and RNA synthesis and is being studied as a COVID drug, according to PubChem .
Magnesium citrate is something you may be familiar with from the pharmacy or if you’ve ever had to do a bowel preparation. Magnesium sulfate is another substance you may know from pouring into your bathtub, also known as Epsom salts.
On the supplement shelves you’ll see things like liposomal magnesium, added amino acid formulas, and many unique ways to add magnesium to the mix.
Aside from the known benefits of taking any magnesium supplement , including improving heart health and maybe even fighting migraines , what you choose to put inside the capsule really depends on you, your needs, and your willingness to experiment. Some are made by large companies without a prescription, some are newer blends with even newer claims, such as those targeting athletes, mental health, or sleep. The bottom line is that most online health sources suggest getting magnesium from your diet first, with leafy greens and beans being excellent natural sources.
This doesn’t mean you may still be magnesium deficient, so talk to your doctor about whether you want to add a magnesium supplement and they can help you choose the type. While netizens tout magnesium glycinate, readily available magnesium citrate is often cheaper, much easier to find, and easily absorbed .
Magnesium oxide, chloride, lactate, malate, and sulfate are all available to buy, and they carry many of the same “maybes” as your typical supplement, meaning there is limited medical research to determine what they can and cannot do. for you. Magnesium can bring real benefits to some people with diabetes , migraines, and even depression, but it is up to your doctor(s) to help you choose what type of magnesium and how much to use for your condition.
Magnesium brings profit to influencers
Supplements are a multi-billion dollar empire in the US, and sometimes they are promoted by disingenuous people. After all, magnesium is a cheap powder, so there’s nothing stopping someone from making a bunch of DIY capsules and then charging $50 a bottle for a few cents worth of minerals prepared in unsafe conditions or concentrations. Those with more scruples can get so-called white-labeled products from legitimate manufacturers who are certified to make the capsules, but there is still a change of hands as the price of a very cheap base ingredient magically increases in price by the time it gets to your store. threshold.
Essentially, selling magnesium is potentially very lucrative, so it makes sense that it is becoming a highly advertised supplement, especially compared to more expensive products with base ingredients like fruits, oils, or plants that need to be cultivated and grown before being processed.
Reputable companies have some standards for their supplements. For example, Amazon requires ISO-17052 certification to sell on its platform. But on TikTok, anything is possible, and unless the supplier has these certifications of their choice, it doesn’t say much about what you’re actually buying.