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Mineral

Magnesium Glycinate

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Magnesium Glycinate. Bisglycinate chelate form of magnesium — gentle, well-absorbed, ideal for sleep.

How it works. Glycine chelation improves absorption and provides additional calming glycine.

What the research supports. 1 graded claims. Strongest: Improves sleep & reduces cramps (moderate).

How much to take. Typical dose: 200–400 mg elemental, evening.

Side effects and interactions. 1 medication interaction listed. Serious: Discontinue and seek medical advice if symptoms are severe, persistent, or include difficulty breathing.

Stacking. Pairs well with Magnesium glycinate, L-theanine, Ashwagandha.

Common forms. Available as Magnesium bisglycinate.

Key studies. 8 studies cited. The strongest are listed with links to PubMed.

Community. Experiences from people who have tried Magnesium Glycinate. Anecdotes are not medical advice.

Magnesium Glycinate. Bisglycinate chelate form of magnesium — gentle, well-absorbed, ideal for sleep.

Molecular structureC4H8MgN2O4 · 172.42 g/mol

What it is

Bisglycinate chelate form of magnesium — gentle, well-absorbed, ideal for sleep.

Food sources

Chelated magnesium

Goals

How it works

Glycine chelation improves absorption and provides additional calming glycine.

Pathways

  • NMDA modulation (glycine)

Effects

  • +Sleep quality supports
  • ↓Muscle cramping decreases

What the research supports

Improves sleep & reduces crampsmoderate

Strong: consistent results across large trials or meta-analyses. Moderate: several trials, mostly positive. Limited: small or mixed studies. Preclinical: animal or cell research only.

Typical dose
200–400 mg elemental, evening
TimingConsistent daily timing recommended; split larger doses if GI tolerance is a concern.
With foodEither with or without food.
Best formMost evidence is based on the magnesium bisglycinate form.
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Side effects & interactions

Common side effects

  • Magnesium Glycinate is generally well-tolerated at evidence-based doses
  • Mild GI discomfort (nausea, loose stools, or bloating) possible at higher intakes
  • Headache or transient fatigue reported by a small fraction of users

Serious

  • Discontinue and seek medical advice if symptoms are severe, persistent, or include difficulty breathing

Medication interactions

Prescription medications (general)minor

Always disclose Magnesium Glycinate use to your prescriber — additive, antagonistic, or pharmacokinetic interactions are possible.

Check any supplement–medication combination with your pharmacist before starting.

Combines with

Pairs well

Common forms

  • Magnesium bisglycinate

Key studies

8 studies cited in total.

PubMed: Magnesium Glycinate — Improves sleep & reduces cramps ↗
Systematic review · PubMed (NLM) · 2026

Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Magnesium Glycinate and "Improves sleep & reduces cramps". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

PubMed: Magnesium Glycinate — randomized controlled trial ↗
Systematic review · PubMed (NLM) · 2026

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

PubMed: Magnesium Glycinate — meta-analysis ↗
Systematic review · PubMed (NLM) · 2026

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

Discussion

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