Magnesium Citrate

Compare every Magnesium Citrate product across UK retailers on Suppio, ranked by true value - price per active dose, not pack size. Prices refreshed daily.

Highly bioavailable magnesium form with mild laxative properties

We rank Magnesium Citrate by price per gram of active ingredient - not by pack size - so a bigger tub with a worse price per dose can't outrank a smaller one that's actually cheaper.

What it is

Magnesium Citrate is a type of magnesium salt. It is created by combining magnesium with citric acid, which makes it highly bioavailable, meaning the body can absorb it into the bloodstream more easily than some other forms.

Why it's used

This ingredient is primarily used to increase magnesium levels in the body. Because it has mild laxative properties, it is often used to help relieve constipation by drawing water into the intestines.

How it's made

To make this supplement, manufacturers combine magnesium oxide or magnesium carbonate with citric acid in a controlled liquid solution. This mixture is then filtered and dried into a fine powder, which is then put into capsules or pressed into tablets.

What it typically costs

This supplement is generally mid-range in price. This is because the process of bonding magnesium to citric acid is more complex than producing basic magnesium oxide, but the raw materials remain relatively common and easy to source.

Dosage by purpose

PurposeTypical studied doseEvidence
bone turnover and bone mineral density in postmenopausal osteoporotic women1,830 mgemerging
sleep quality320 mglimited

Forms compared

FormWhat it isWhy chosenDoes it actually differ?
Magnesium CitrateA salt form of magnesium that is widely studied.It is chosen for its good bioavailability, meaning the body can absorb it easily.Consistently shows good bioavailability compared to other forms.
Magnesium GlycinateA salt form of magnesium.It is used because it appears to have good bioavailability.Listed as having good bioavailability, similar to magnesium citrate.
Magnesium OxideA salt form of magnesium.Not recommended for increasing magnesium levels due to poor performance.Has extremely poor absorption and a higher risk of causing stomach-related side effects.

Verdict: Avoid magnesium oxide due to poor absorption and side effects, and instead choose magnesium citrate or glycinate for better absorption.

  1. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional (Other)
  2. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8313472 (PubMed)
  3. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11136869 (PubMed)
  4. https://examine.com/supplements/magnesium (Examine)
  5. https://examine.com/research-feed/study/rdZEz9?requirelogin= (Examine)
  6. https://examine.com/supplements/creatine/research (Examine)
  7. https://examine.com/supplements/zinc (Examine)

How Suppio ranks

Suppio matches identical products across UK retailers by barcode, then ranks by price per active dose rather than sticker price. Value rankings only ever include listings Suppio has independently verified against the live retailer page - unverified data is shown on each product’s own page but excluded from ranking.

Prices across our retailer network are refreshed at least daily.

FAQ

What is Magnesium Citrate?

Highly bioavailable magnesium form with mild laxative properties

How does Suppio calculate the best-value Magnesium Citrate?

We rank Magnesium Citrate by price per gram of active ingredient - not by pack size - so a bigger tub with a worse price per dose can't outrank a smaller one that's actually cheaper.

Are these prices verified?

Suppio matches identical products across UK retailers by barcode, then ranks by price per active dose rather than sticker price. Value rankings only ever include listings Suppio has independently verified against the live retailer page - unverified data is shown on each product’s own page but excluded from ranking.

How often are Magnesium Citrate prices updated?

Prices across our retailer network are refreshed at least daily.

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