MineralsMagnesium

Higher magnesium intake is associated with lower odds of insomnia symptoms in adults without diabetes

In Puerto Rican adults without diabetes, higher total magnesium intake (per 100 mg/d) was associated with 58% lower odds of insomnia symptoms (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.23-0.79), and magnesium supplement users had 63% lower odds compared to nonusers (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.17-0.81). This association was not observed in participants with diabetes (P-interaction < 0.05).

Last updated: Jul 8, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score34/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Diabetes modifies the association between magnesium and insomnia, but not depressive symptomatology, in Puerto Rican adults: a prospective cohort study.

observational

Chen F, Mangano KM, Scott TM, Li W, Falc&#xf3;n LM, Gao X, Garelnabi M, Tucker KL · The American journal of clinical nutrition (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: ~4 years median follow-up
Intervention: Dietary magnesium intake (from food and supplements) assessed at visit 2
Outcome: Incident insomnia symptoms at visit 3 (median follow-up ~4 years)
Effect Size: OR 0.42 per 100 mg/d total magnesium (95% CI 0.23-0.79)
Population: Puerto Rican adults without diabetes from the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study (n=613 for dietary magnesium analysis)

Result:

PubMed: 41862003DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2026.101285

Mechanism Graph

Magnesium may regulate sleep through modulation of GABA receptors
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Magnesium influences melatonin production and circadian rhythms
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Magnesium reduces stress-induced cortisol release
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Result: Improved sleep quality and reduced insomnia symptoms

Limitations

  • ⚠Observational study design cannot establish causality
  • ⚠Findings limited to Puerto Rican adults and may not generalize to other populations
  • ⚠Serum magnesium showed no association, suggesting dietary intake may reflect different biological processes

Frequently Asked Questions

Does magnesium help with insomnia in everyone?▼

No, this study found that higher magnesium intake was associated with lower odds of insomnia only in adults without diabetes. No significant association was seen in participants with diabetes.

What type of magnesium was studied?▼

The study examined total magnesium intake from food and supplements, as well as magnesium from food alone and serum magnesium levels. Magnesium supplement use was also analyzed separately.

How much magnesium was associated with benefit?▼

Each 100 mg/day increase in total magnesium intake was associated with 58% lower odds of insomnia symptoms in adults without diabetes.

Was magnesium associated with depression in this study?▼

No clear association was found between magnesium and overall depressive symptoms (CES-D score), though higher magnesium intake from food was linked to less low positive affect, a sub-dimension of depression.

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References

  1. 1.Chen F, Mangano KM, Scott TM, Li W, Falc&#xf3;n LM, Gao X, Garelnabi M, Tucker KL. "Diabetes modifies the association between magnesium and insomnia, but not depressive symptomatology, in Puerto Rican adults: a prospective cohort study.." The American journal of clinical nutrition, 2026. PMID: 41862003 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2026.101285
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.