2 forms studied
Does magnesium help with headaches/migraines?
Yes — but only in one form. Magnesium Oxide is the one that was tested, and the others sold for this do not carry the same evidence.
Form by form
Strongest first. Evidence for one salt or ester is not evidence for another, so each is rated on its own trials.
Magnesium OxideSolid
Trials used 400–600 mg · 1 study
Magnesium GlycinateNot verified
Trials used 400–600 mg · 2 studies · tested as Magnesium oxide, trimagnesium dicitrate, magnesium citrate, magnesium pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, magnesium aspartate (all used in published RCTs for migraine prophylaxis; none are glycinate/bisglycinate)
Worth knowing before you buy. Magnesium Glycinate is widely sold for headaches/migraines, but the trials behind that use tested magnesium oxide instead.