Does Magnesium Really Improve Sleep?
With quality sleep being essential to overall health, many people are seeking safe options to improve sleep without side effects. In recent months, magnesium has been receiving significant attention online for its sleep-enhancing properties. But is it safe — and does it really work?
“There’s a lot of interest in finding ways to sleep better, and there is data that shows magnesium may have some benefit,” said Khalid M. Eltawil, MD, FAASM, a board-certified pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine specialist at Torrance Memorial Medical Center.
Dr. Eltawil said that studies on sleep latency — the time it takes to fall asleep — suggest that magnesium may help people fall asleep faster. Other research suggests it may help people stay asleep throughout the night.
“Magnesium is a relatively safe supplement that is available over-the-counter, but taking too much could lead to side effects such as GI upset, headache, or muscle weakness,” said Dr. Eltawil. “As with any medication or supplement, it’s important to talk to your doctor before taking it to make sure it is safe for you.”
Dr. Eltawil cautioned that taking magnesium for sleep could be harmful for people with certain types of heart disease, and some people may achieve more sleep benefit than others.
“Older people with low magnesium levels or chronic pain typically benefit more from magnesium supplements, while young and healthy people may only experience a modest benefit at best,” said Dr. Eltawil.
Anyone who is experiencing sleep problems that last for more than a few weeks should talk to their doctor to rule out more serious conditions, such as insomnia, anxiety, or sleep apnea.
Dr. Khalid Eltawil is board-certified in internal medicine, pulmonary disease, critical care and sleep medicine. Dr. Eltawil earned his bachelor's degree at University of London and medical degree at Cairo University. He completed his residency and his pulmonary, critical care, and sleep fellowship at USC Medical Center in 2003. Dr. Eltawil is fluent in Arabic. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Eltawil or another Torrance Memorial sleep expert, please call the Torrance Memorial Sleep Disorders Center at 310-517-8950.
