mineral · for back pain
Magnesium Glycinate
Meant to help the muscles either side of your spine release a spasm.
Say that in clinical terms
Magnesium reduces paraspinal muscle spasm by acting as a natural calcium channel blocker and supporting GABA-mediated inhibitory signaling. It also has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties through NMDA receptor modulation.
How strong is the research?
In 209 patients, adding magnesium to standard painkillers produced no extra relief.
2 papers read, 1 supporting, 1 against.
Tested as: magnesium sulfate (intravenous) and magnesium oxide + magnesium gluconate (oral) in Yousef 2013; unspecified oral magnesium salt in Bayram 2021
Who was studied: The cited paper is about peripheral arterial disease and has no connection to magnesium or back pain.
A proper search found trials of this compound, but not in the form named here — magnesium sulfate (intravenous) and magnesium oxide + magnesium gluconate (oral) in Yousef 2013; unspecified oral magnesium salt in Bayram 2021. Evidence for one form is not evidence for another.
How much to take
daily
300–400 mg
Supports muscle relaxation and reduces spasm. May help with both acute and chronic back pain.
Before you take it
- NIH ODS Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for supplemental magnesium is 350 mg/day for adults; the principal adverse effect above the UL is osmotic diarrhea; hypermagnesemia is rare with intact renal function but possible with chronically elevated doses.
- Tetracycline antibiotics (e.g., doxycycline, demeclocycline) and quinolone antibiotics (e.g., ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin): take the antibiotic at least 2 hours BEFORE or 4-6 hours AFTER magnesium supplementation, per NIH ODS. Note: this timing requirement is asymmetric.
- Bisphosphonates (e.g., alendronate): magnesium reduces oral bisphosphonate absorption; take at least 2 hours apart, per NIH ODS.
- Antihypertensive medications (ACE inhibitors, ARBs, calcium channel blockers): magnesium may potentiate blood-pressure-lowering effects; blood pressure should be monitored when these are combined.
- Loop diuretics (furosemide) and thiazide diuretics increase renal magnesium excretion; potassium-sparing diuretics decrease magnesium excretion — both are clinically relevant interactions in common patient populations.
- Long-term proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use reduces intestinal magnesium absorption and causes hypomagnesemia independent of dietary intake.
- Renal insufficiency and chronic kidney disease: impaired renal magnesium excretion substantially increases hypermagnesemia risk; supplementation requires medical supervision.
- The antacid effect seen with magnesium hydroxide, carbonate, and oxide forms is form-specific and does not apply to magnesium glycinate at typical supplement doses.
When to take it
Best taken: evening
What we make of it
The citation is a review about peripheral arterial disease.
The detail
The identifier resolves to a narrative review of nutrition in peripheral arterial disease. It has no connection to magnesium or back pain.