Magnesium citrate vs Magnesium oxide
On Reddit, owners rate Magnesium citrate higher overall (4.0 vs 4.0). Scores summarize self-reported experiences and are not evidence that either will work for you.
| Magnesium citrate | Magnesium oxide | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | capsules, tablets or powder | tablets or capsules |
| GutVerdict score | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Owner sentiment | 3.4 | 3.9 |
| Recommendations | 4.5 | 3.0 |
| Tolerability | 4.8 | 4.7 |
| Owner comments | 843 | 279 |
| Rated comments | 329 | 113 |
| Unwanted effects reported | 6% | 9% |
| Top praise | Dose & timing, Regularity | Dose & timing, Regularity |
| Top complaints | Side effects, Dose & timing | Dose & timing, Side effects |
By symptom
| Context | Magnesium citrate | Magnesium oxide |
|---|---|---|
| IBS-C & constipation | 153 of 234 positive | 67 of 78 positive |
| IBS-D & loose stools | 13 of 24 positive | 5 of 6 positive |
| Bloating & gas | 28 of 43 positive | 15 of 15 positive |
| SIBO | 76 of 95 positive | 31 of 36 positive |
| After antibiotics | 8 of 11 positive | 3 of 3 positive |
| Stool form | 4 of 6 positive | Too few comments |
| Pain & cramping | 31 of 51 positive | 11 of 15 positive |
Forms differ a lot; see magnesium citrate vs oxide vs glycinate. Our safety notes for gut supplements cite NIH sources. Our gut supplement shortlists group top-rated options by what people report.
What owners say about Magnesium citrate
2/5“Taking more and more laxatives, drinking Magnesium Citrate as a last resort, NEVER AGAIN.”
4/5“Today I would take some magnesium citrate, because wherever is fermenting in your gut needs to be released not stuck up inside of you.”
4/5“I want to recommend the magnesium citrate gummies by Nature Vitality brand.”
What owners say about Magnesium oxide
4/5“Now at 32 I have not had an attack like this in almost a year whilst taking 400mg of magnesium oxide every night before bed..”
4/5“The Micromag looks like all magnesium oxide (I may be mistaken), to give the higher percentage of magnesium inside each molecule, but this is a grey area for me because I don't know what that would do in the body.”
4/5“Magnesium oxide at bedtime helped me tremendously.”
Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before switching or combining supplements, particularly if you take other medicines.