Digestive Health Irritable Bowel Syndrome IBS With Constipation Print The Health Benefits of Magnesium This supplement may help with neuromuscular relaxation Medically reviewed by facebook linkedin Medically reviewed by Richard N. Fogoros, MD on July 05, 2019 Richard N. Fogoros, MD, is a retired professor of medicine and board-certified internal medicine physician and cardiologist. He is Verywell's Senior Medical Advisor. Learn about our Medical Review Board Richard N. Fogoros, MD Written by twitter Written by Barbara Bolen, PhD Barbara Bolen PhD helps people live with irritable bowel syndrome by offering awareness on the mind and body connection, and she has written multiple books on the topic. Dr. Bolen is also a licensed clinical psychologist and health coach. Learn about our editorial policy Barbara Bolen, PhD Updated on July 17, 2019 More in Irritable Bowel Syndrome IBS With Constipation Causes & Diagnosis Living With Nutrition Symptoms Treatment Support & Coping IBS With Diarrhea Related Conditions View All In This Article Table of Contents Expand Health Benefits Possible Side Effects Dosage and Preparation What to Look For View All Back To Top Magnesium is a mineral that is essential for overall physical health. Approximately half of the magnesium in our bodies is found in our bones. The rest serves to help in cellular functioning throughout the body’s various systems. Magnesium plays an important role in muscle function, heart rhythm, blood pressure, immune system functioning, and blood sugar level. Health Benefits Neuromuscular Excitability Magnesium is often used in different types of cases related to overexcitation of the neuromuscular system. This overexcitation of the neuromuscular system is common in people who use stimulant medications, and can show up as muscle twitches, as well as jaw clenching and teeth gnashing. A review of several case studies indicates promise for oral magnesium to alleviate these latter symptoms, otherwise known as bruxism. Restless leg syndrome is a condition in which people experience an urge to move their legs. Taking oral magnesium supplements was found to improve symptoms of restless leg syndrome in a study of 100 patients with type 2 diabetes. Women who received an intravenous magnesium salt had a 52 percent lower risk of subsequent convulsions than those given diazepam, in one 2011 review of 1687 women experiencing seizures after pregnancy. IBS A 2016 study and a 2017 study showed that consumption of mineral water rich in magnesium sulfate can improve the frequency of bowel movements in people who have IBS-C, but the effect has not been shown to last for longer than 6 weeks. This temporary laxative effect of magnesium appears to come through two different mechanisms: Muscle Relaxation: Magnesium may relax the muscles in the intestines, which can help to establish a smoother flow as the stool passes through the bowels.Stool Softener: Magnesium draws water into the intestines, working as an osmotic laxative. This increase in water stimulates bowel motility. It also softens and increases the size of the stool, triggering a bowel movement and helping to make stools easier to pass. Possible Side Effects Verywell / Cindy Chung The most common side effect is diarrhea, which can cause dehydration, nutritional deficits, weight loss, and electrolyte imbalance, potentially resulting in serious effects on your heart, muscles, and breathing. Toxicity Toxic amounts of magnesium can cause problems with the kidneys and may produce severe adverse events affecting the intestines. A condition called ischemic colitis, which can cause permanent damage to the intestines has been described as a result of magnesium toxicity. Read the product labels carefully to prevent excessive magnesium intake. Medication Interactions Supplemental magnesium may interfere with the effectiveness of some prescription medications. Before starting magnesium, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of the following: LaxativesVitamin supplementsDiureticsChemotherapy drugsOsteoporosis medicationsThyroid medicationsCertain antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin and moxifloxacinAntacids Read about the benefits and interactions of magnesium malate. In some cases, you can minimize a drug interaction by separating magnesium from the co-prescribed drug by four to six hours. In others, your doctor may need to either substitute or adjust the dose of the co-prescribed drug. Considerations Your kidneys are directly responsible for clearing magnesium from the blood, so you should not take vitamin and mineral supplements (unless prescribed by your doctor) if you have kidney disease or if you need dialysis, as even normal amounts may produce toxicity. If you are using magnesium to treat your constipation from IBS-C, you should be aware that the dose of magnesium used to treat constipation is not intended to be used as a dietary supplement. If your kidneys are impaired, the excessive intake of magnesium can lead to an abnormal accumulation referred to as hypermagnesemia. This, in turn, can lead to heart rhythm problems, respiratory distress, and even cardiac arrest. Dosage and Preparation The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has published a fact sheet outlining the recommended daily intake of magnesium. The amount recommended varies by age, and different guidelines are offered for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. This is the total amount, which includes magnesium intake from foods, too. You can take magnesium as a vitamin pill, in a prepared liquid form, or as a powder mixed into a liquid. Magnesium supplements come in a variety of forms, each paired with a different chemical. These magnesium salt combinations are absorbed at different rates by the small intestine. As a result, each supplement differs in the speed at which it can meet the need for magnesium and therefore has a different dose threshold necessary for the effects to be felt. This makes it challenging to know whether a lower dose used in a clinical study of one salt formulation will be effective for someone attempting to replicate the effects with a different formulation. If the dose used in both studies is sufficient to meet the need for magnesium, the effects will likely be comparable. Keep this in mind when interpreting this research and consult with your doctor before starting any treatment regimens. What to Look For Checking the Supplement Facts label on the back of the magnesium packaging will allow you to check the active dose per serving as well as any other ingredients that may be included, such as flavorings, fillers, or binders. Third-party testing organization ConsumerLab investigated 40 popular magnesium supplements on the market and found several that had slower than normal disintegration testing, several that contained harmful amounts of lead, and several that were improperly labeled based on the contents. It can be good to check up on a specific manufacturer through one of these third-party testing sites in order to be sure you can trust what you see on the label. Best Probiotic Supplements for IBS Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! One of the most challenging aspects of having IBS is trying to figure out what's safe to eat. Our recipe guide makes it easier. Sign up and get yours now! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial policy to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Bothe G, Coh A, Auinger A. Efficacy and safety of a natural mineral water rich in magnesium and sulphate for bowel function: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Eur J Nutr. 2017. 56(2):491-499. doi:10.1007/s00394-015-1094-8. Epub 2015 Nov 18. ConsumerLab. Magnesium and Calcium-Magnesium Supplements Review. June, 2019. Fairley, J., Zhang, L, Glassford, N, Bellomo, R. Magnesium status and magnesium therapy in cardiac surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis focusing on arrhythmia prevention. Journal of Critical Care. 2017. 42:69-77. doi:10.1016/j.jcrc.2017.05.038 Fang X, Wang K, Han D, Wei J, Zhao L, Imam MU, Ping Z, Li Y, Xu Y, Min J, Wang F. Circulating magnesium levels and incidence of coronary heart diseases, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. BMC Med. 2016. 8;14 (1):210. doi:10.1186/s12916-016-0742-z National Institute of Health. Magnesium Health Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. April, 2019. Naumann J, Sadaghiani C, Alt F, Huber R. Effects of Sulfate-Rich Mineral Water on Functional Constipation: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study. Forsch Komplementmed. 2016;23(6):356-363. doi:10.1159/000449436. Epub 2016 Oct 12. Nissani, M. A bibliographical survey of bruxism with special emphasis on non-traditional treatment modalities. Journal of Oral Science, 2001, 43(2):73-83. doi:10.2334/josnusd.43.73 Schutten, JC, Joosten, MM, de Borst, MH, Bakker, SJL. Magnesium and Blood Pressure: A Physiology-Based Approach. Adv Chronic Kidney Dis. 2018. 25(3):244-250. doi:10.1053/j.ackd.2017.12.003. Continue Reading