Not a botanical (magnesium salt of citric acid) · mineral
Evidence tier: limited
Magnesium citrate is magnesium bound to citric acid, a form that dissolves well in water. Its trials measured blood magnesium levels rather than how people felt.
Magnesium bound to citric acid, which dissolves well and is readily absorbed. At laxative doses the unabsorbed magnesium draws water into the bowel.
The best documented absorber among common magnesium salts: NIH ODS lists citrate among the forms more bioavailable than oxide and sulfate, Lindberg 1990 found it far more soluble and better absorbed than oxide (PMID 2407766), and in a 60 day RCT it gave the highest blood magnesium of the forms tested (PMID 14596323). These trials measured magnesium levels, not symptoms; for sleep, anxiety and cramps citrate inherits magnesium's limited file. As a US OTC saline laxative the oral solution relieves occasional constipation in half an hour to 6 hours at doses many times the supplement limit (DailyMed label); no randomised trial of citrate in chronic constipation was found.
As a supplement, 200 to 350 mg of elemental magnesium a day (about 1,550 mg of anhydrous citrate for 250 mg). The laxative solution is dosed by its label only, short term.
Two different uses. As a supplement, keep to 350 mg elemental a day or less. As a laxative, the solution works in half an hour to 6 hours and is for occasional use only, 2 or more hours apart from other medicines. Not with kidney disease unless a doctor advises. [NIH ODS; DailyMed]
Onset: ~1 days
Pregnancy: caution
Breastfeeding: caution
Active compounds: elemental magnesium, citrate
Remedies using Magnesium Citrate · Browse by body system · Check it against what you take
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.