**The Story**
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products featured on our site. According to the wellness community, taking magnesium supplements half an hour before bed can help you snooze right through the night.
As a chronic poor sleeper, I decided to try Boots magnesium oxide supplements. Despite my initial skepticism, I was immediately impressed by the difference: fewer nighttime awakenings and a real sense of having had proper, restorative sleep by morning—not the strange, fake slumber I sometimes experience with sleeping pills.
**What’s the Point?**
You might assume that only those who are magnesium deficient would benefit from these supplements. It’s true that low magnesium levels, identified through blood tests, are more common in older adults, heavy drinkers, and people with gut conditions that impair absorption, such as Crohn’s or coeliac disease.
However, while clear magnesium deficiency is uncommon in the general population, many people do fall short of optimal intake—especially older adults and some younger women, says Dr. Seeta Shah, sleep expert for bedding brand Panda London.
In the UK, the recommended daily intake is around 300mg for men and 270mg for women. You don’t necessarily need to take a pill to reach this amount; magnesium is also found in nuts, seeds, legumes, whole grains, and leafy green vegetables.
**What’s the Science?**
Magnesium plays a calming role in the nervous system, explains Dr. Shah. It supports the activity of GABA, the brain’s main calming neurotransmitter, which can help reduce nighttime wakefulness and encourage restful sleep.
There is also evidence that magnesium influences stress hormones and circadian rhythms, both of which may contribute to deeper, more restorative sleep.
**What’s the Verdict?**
After taking magnesium oxide supplements for three months, I’ve experienced long-term improvements in sleep quality. However, other forms of magnesium might work even better.
Organic forms such as magnesium citrate or magnesium glycinate are usually better absorbed and therefore more suitable for people specifically targeting sleep improvements, advises Dr. Shah.
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