Evidence supporting the use of: Magnesium
For the health condition: Anxiety

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Magnesium is commonly used as a supplement to support anxiety relief, and there is some scientific evidence to support this practice, although the quality and quantity of evidence are moderate. Magnesium plays a crucial role in nervous system function and regulation of neurotransmitters that influence mood, such as GABA. Low magnesium levels have been associated with symptoms of anxiety in both observational and some interventional studies. A 2017 systematic review (Boyle et al.) concluded that magnesium supplementation may have a beneficial effect on mild anxiety, but also highlighted that the studies were generally small and of low quality.

Mechanistically, magnesium appears to modulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and block the activity of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, which are involved in the stress response. Some randomized controlled trials have shown modest reductions in anxiety symptoms with magnesium supplementation, especially in individuals with magnesium deficiency or those under significant stress. However, other trials have shown minimal or no effect, leading to ongoing controversy about its efficacy.

In summary, while there is a plausible biological rationale and some scientific evidence supporting the use of magnesium for anxiety, the overall strength of the evidence is moderate at best (rated 2 out of 5). More rigorous, large-scale studies are needed to draw definitive conclusions.

More about magnesium
More about Anxiety

Other ingredients used for Anxiety

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)
7,8-Dihydroxyflavone
Aconite
Agarwood
Agastache
Agmatine
Agrimony
Albizia
Alpha lactalbumin
alpha-pinene
alpha-terpineol
amino acids
Amor seco
anamu
Anemone
aniracetam
anise
apigenin
Ardisia
ash
ashwagandha
Asteraceae
Bacopa
Bacopin
bacoside
bacteria
baicalein
baicalin
Baikal Skullcap
balsam
basil
bayleaf
bee products
benegut perilla (proprietary)
bergamot
beta caryophyllene
betony
Bifidobacteria
Bifidobacterium
Bifidobacterium adolescentis
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Bifidobacterium infantis
Bifidobacterium lactis
Bifidobacterium longum
black cumin
black seed
blackboard tree
Bombax
borneol
brahmi
Bupleurum
bupleurum falcatum
calamus
Calea zacatechichi
California poppy
Camellia sinensis
cannabidiol
cannabigerol
Cannabis sativa oil
Canscora
capillary artemisia
Capitate Valerian
cardamom
caryophyllene
catnip
catuaba
Centella asiatica
Centella triterpenes
chamomile
Chinese raisintree
Chinese salvia root
chrysanthemum
Cinnamomum
citron
Clary sage
Clerodendrum indicum
Clostridium butyricum
clove
cocoa
Convolvulus pluricaulis
Convolvulus prostratus
cordyceps
cowslip
Curcuma
curcumin
Cymbopogon martini
damiana
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
dodeca-2E, 4E-dienoic acid isobutylamide
dragonhead
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
Erythrina
essential oil blend
eugenol
fatty acids
fennel
Ficus religiosa
fragrant rosewood
fungus
ganoderma
gardenia
Gardenia jasminoides
gastrodia
gastrodin
Gelsemium
geranium
ginkgo biloba
ginseng
Ginsenosides
Glycine
gotu kola
Greek mountain tea
green tea
Griffonia simplicifolia
guayusa
heal-all
hemp
hemp oil
Herb Robert
herbal blend (proprietary)
hericium mushroom
honeybush
Honokiol
hops
hyperforin
Hypericum
Hyperoside
Ilex
Indian fagonia
Indian tinospora
indigo leaves
inositol
iridoids
isoliquiritigenin
jasmine
Jatamansi
jujube
jujubosides
kanna
kava
kavalactones
Kefir
kudzu
L-glycine
L-theanine
L-tryptophan
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
lactium casein decapeptide
Lactobacillus brevis
Lactobacillus fermentum
Lactobacillus gasseri
Lactobacillus helveticus
Lactobacillus johnsonii
Lactobacillus paracasei
Lactobacillus plantarum
Lactobacillus reuteri
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
Lactobacillus salivarius
Lactococcus rhamnosus
Lactucarium
Lactucopicrin
Large-leaved linden
Lavandin
lavender
lemon balm
lemongrass
ligustilides
limonene
linalool
linden
lingzhi
lion's mane
lithium orotate
Litsea
longan
lotus
lupulinum
Lycopodium
maca
magnesium
magnolia
magnolol
Marjoram
Matcha
Melatonin
Mentha haplocalyx
Menthol oil
Mesembrine
Mimosa
Mimulus
Mint
Monkey flower
Monoterpenes
Motherwort
Mugwort
Muira puama
Mulungu
Myrcene
N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
Nardostachys
Nigella seed
Nutmeg
Nymphaea caerulea
Nymphaea nouchali
omega-3 fatty acids
oolong tea
oriental arborvitae
Oroxylum indicum
Osmanthus
Oxindole alkaloids
paeoniflorin
passionflower
Passionfruit
Patchouli oil
peony
Petiveria
Phellodendron
phellodendron amurense
Phenylpropanoids
phosphatidylserine
phytocannabinoids
Plectranthus amboinicus
Polygala
polygala root
poppy
prebiotic blend (proprietary)
pregnenolone
prepared aconite tuber
probiotics
Puerain
Pulsatilla
Purple Monkeyflower
pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P-5-P)
Rauvolfia
reishi mushroom
relora® (proprietary)
rhizome
Rhodiola
Rooibos
rosavins
rose
rose oil
rosemary
rosmarinic acid
rue
saffron
Safranal
sage
Salidroside
Salvia
SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine disulfate p-toluensulfate)
Sandalwood
sceletium
Schisandrins
Schizandrol A
Scleranthus annus
Scoparia dulcis
Self-Heal
Sensitive Plant
Sesquiterpenes
Sete sangrias
Shankhpushpi
shen-chu
silk tree
skullcap
Sophora
soursop
Southern Tsangshu
Southernwood
spearmint leaf
Speedwell
Sphaeranthus indicus
Spikenard
squawvine
St. John's Wort
Stachytarpheta cayennensis
star of Bethlehem
Storax
Sumbul
sweet flag
Sweet Orange alcohol
Tagara
Tea
Terpenoids
Tetrahydropalmatine
thyme
Tinospora cordifolia
Traveler's Joy
Trichilia catigua
Uncaria
Valerenic acid
Valerian root
velvet bean
Verbena
Vervain
Vetiver
Viburnum
Violet
vitamin B
vitamin B12
vitamin B6
vitamin C
Vitex Agnus-Castus
Vitexin
Waterhyssop
White Tea
Withanolides
Wogonin
Wood betony
Xylaria nigripes
Yerba buena
Ylang ylang
Yohimbine
Yuzu
Zinc

Other health conditions supported by magnesium

Addictions (drugs)
Addictions (general remedies for)
Aging (prevention)
Alcoholism
Alkalosis
Alzheimer's Disease
Angina
Anorexia
Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders
Apathy
Arrhythmia
Arteriosclerosis
Arthritis
Asthma
Athletic and Exercise Aids
Attention Deficit Disorder
Autism
Autoimmune Disorders
Backache
Bipolar Mood Disorder
Birth Control (countering side effects)
Body Building
Body Odor
Boils
Broken Bones
Bronchitis
Bulimia
Calcium Deficiency
Calcium Deposits
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Canker Sores
Carbuncles
Cardiac Arrest
Cardiovascular Disease
Chest Pain
Colon (atonic)
Dysmenorrhea
Emotional Sensitivity
Endurance (lack of)
Energy (lack of)
Epilepsy
Exercise
Fatigue
Fibromyalgia Syndrome
Headache (cluster)
Headache (tension)
Hearing Loss
Heart (weakness)
Mental Illness
Migraine
Mood Swings
Muscle Tone (lack of)
Nerve Damage
Nervous Exhaustion
Nervousness
Neurosis
Numbness
Osteoporosis
Oxygen Deficiency
Pain (general remedies for)
Paralysis
Pets (supplements for)
PMS (general)
PMS Type A
PMS Type C
PMS Type D
PMS Type H
PMS Type P
Post Partum Depression
Post Partum Weakness
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Pregnancy (herbs and supplements for)
Progesterone (low)
Psoriasis
Restless Leg Syndrome
Rhinitis
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seizures
Senility
Shock
Skin (dry and/or flaky)
Skin Care (general)
Sleep (restless and disturbed)
Stress
Sugar Cravings
Surgery (healing from)
Surgery (preparation for)
Tachycardia
Tension
Testosterone (low)
Tetanus
Thinking (cloudy)
Tics
Tinnitus
TMJ
Tooth Decay
Toxemia
Triglycerides (high)
Twitching
Wasting
Wheezing
Worry
Wounds and Sores
Adrenal Fatigue
Abscesses
Allergies (respiratory)
Abdominal Pain
Acid Indigestion
Cholesterol (high)
Circulation (poor)
Constipation (adults)
Convulsions
Cramps (leg)
Cramps (menstrual)
Cramps and Spasms
Depression
Diabetes
Digestion (poor)
Dizziness
Gastritis
Headache (general)
Heart Fibrillation or Palpitations
Hypertension
Insomnia