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evidence · mechanism · dose
Supplements/Mineral

Magnesium Chloride

Topical and oral magnesium with good absorption — commonly used in 'magnesium oil' sprays.

Muscle GrowthGeneral Wellness

Overview

Topical and oral magnesium with good absorption — commonly used in 'magnesium oil' sprays.

Natural sources
    Common forms

      Forms & variants of Magnesium

      Different chemical forms of Magnesium behave differently. Browse each form's mechanism, bioavailability, and best-use context.

      Parent
      Magnesium

      Essential cofactor in 300+ enzymatic reactions, from ATP production to muscle relaxation.

      Glycinate
      Magnesium Glycinate

      Chelated magnesium bound to glycine — best-tolerated form for sleep, calm, and muscle relaxation.

      Citrate
      Magnesium Citrate

      Highly bioavailable magnesium with a mild osmotic laxative effect — useful for constipation and repletion.

      Malate
      Magnesium Malate

      Magnesium + malic acid — favored for daytime energy and fibromyalgia-related fatigue.

      L-Threonate
      Magnesium L-Threonate

      Magnesium bound to L-threonic acid — the only form shown to meaningfully raise brain magnesium.

      Taurate
      Magnesium Taurate

      Magnesium + taurine — gentle on the gut with cardiovascular and glycemic synergies.

      Oxide
      Magnesium Oxide

      Cheapest magnesium salt — poor absorption (~4%) but useful as a laxative or antacid.

      Orotate
      Magnesium Orotate

      Magnesium + orotic acid — studied specifically in heart failure and athletic populations.

      Sulfate (IV)
      Magnesium Sulfate (IV)

      Reference IV form used in eclampsia and acute asthma.

      Acetyl-taurate
      Magnesium Acetyl-Taurate

      Brain-penetrant Mg form combined with taurate for mood.

      Mechanism of action

      Dissociates rapidly; chloride aids stomach acid (HCl) production.

      Pathways
      • · Mg-ATP
      • · Gastric acidity

      Effects on the body

      Organ system effects

      Evidence-based benefits

      Supports low-stomach-acid digestion

      Limited evidence

      Transdermal absorption (controversial)

      Anecdotal

      Potential side effects

      Common
      • · Skin tingling (topical)
      Rare
        Serious

          Drug interactions

          No notable interactions reported.

          Supplement interactions

          Pairs well with

          None listed.

          Avoid combining with

          No specific avoidances listed.

          Dosing & bioavailability

          Typical dose
          200–400 mg elemental oral; spray PRN topical
          With food?
          With food (oral)

          Where to buy

          Affiliate-style search links to reputable retailers. We don't endorse specific brands — verify third-party testing (USP, NSF, Informed Sport) before purchase.

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          Thorne
          Practitioner-grade · NSF tested

          Scientific evidence (9)

          RCTDiabetes Care · 2003

          Magnesium chloride supplementation and insulin sensitivity

          Rodríguez-Morán M, Guerrero-Romero F

          16-week RCT of MgCl2 solution in T2D.

          Key findings

          Improved insulin sensitivity and glycemic control.

          Open study
          Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

          PubMed: Magnesium Chloride — Supports low-stomach-acid digestion

          Live PubMed search

          Live results for "Magnesium Chloride Supports low-stomach-acid digestion" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

          Key findings

          Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Magnesium Chloride and "Supports low-stomach-acid digestion". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

          Open study
          Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

          PubMed: Magnesium Chloride — Transdermal absorption

          Live PubMed search

          Live results for "Magnesium Chloride Transdermal absorption" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

          Key findings

          Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Magnesium Chloride and "Transdermal absorption". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

          Open study
          Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

          PubMed: Magnesium Chloride — randomized controlled trial

          Live PubMed search

          Live results for "Magnesium Chloride randomized controlled trial" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

          Key findings

          Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Magnesium Chloride and "randomized controlled trial". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

          Open study
          Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

          PubMed: Magnesium Chloride — meta-analysis

          Live PubMed search

          Live results for "Magnesium Chloride meta-analysis" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

          Key findings

          Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Magnesium Chloride and "meta-analysis". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

          Open study
          Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

          PubMed: Magnesium Chloride — pharmacokinetics

          Live PubMed search

          Live results for "Magnesium Chloride pharmacokinetics" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

          Key findings

          Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Magnesium Chloride and "pharmacokinetics". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

          Open study
          Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

          PubMed: Magnesium Chloride — safety adverse events

          Live PubMed search

          Live results for "Magnesium Chloride safety adverse events" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

          Key findings

          Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Magnesium Chloride and "safety adverse events". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

          Open study
          Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

          PubMed: Magnesium Chloride — dose response

          Live PubMed search

          Live results for "Magnesium Chloride dose response" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

          Key findings

          Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Magnesium Chloride and "dose response". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

          Open study
          Systematic reviewGoogle Scholar · 1970

          Google Scholar: Magnesium Chloride — clinical evidence

          Live Scholar search

          Cross-database citation index for Magnesium Chloride as it relates to "clinical evidence".

          Key findings

          Includes preprints, theses, and journal articles. Useful for tracking citation counts and follow-on work.

          Open study
          Educational use only. This profile is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic condition.