If you spend any time on social media, chances are you will have seen a post about magnesium, and in particular how supplements can help with everything from improving sleep to easing migraines. The hashtag #magnesium has more than a billion views on TikTok and my Instagram feed, no doubt powered by an algorithm that knows I\u2019m an exhausted fortysomething, is full of adverts for magnesium sleep cures. But what is the truth about this \u201cmineral of the moment\u201d?<\/p>\n
\u2022 Which supplements should you really take?<\/a><\/p>\n What does magnesium do? <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an essential dietary mineral involved in over 600 bodily biochemical reactions,\u201d says Dr Linia Patel, a dietitian and spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association. It\u2019s involved in the function of our energy levels and nervous system, blood pressure regulation and blood glucose control, she adds, while \u201cnot having enough is also associated with an increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease\u201d.<\/p>\n Magnesium is also said to improve mood. In a 2023 review of studies, researchers found that such supplements helped to reduce the symptoms of depression. \u201cIt plays an important role in stress management because it works together with serotonin and melatonin, two neurotransmitters that help regulate it,\u201d Patel says. <\/p>\n Two small, short-term trials have found that it may help to relieve constipation too.<\/p>\n