This page describes pharmacological agents that may have legal restrictions, side effects, and drug interactions in your jurisdiction. Information is for educational research only — consult a clinician before considering any compound.
Magnesium L-Threonate
The only magnesium salt with credible evidence for raising brain (CSF) magnesium beyond what oral Mg from other forms achieves.
Aliases (6)
Overview
What is Magnesium L-Threonate?
Magnesium L-threonate (Magtein) is a magnesium salt of L-threonic acid developed for enhanced central nervous system penetration. It is used as a cognitive and sleep-support supplement.
Key Benefits
Raises brain magnesium more effectively than other forms, supports memory and executive function, improves sleep quality, and may benefit anxiety, attention, and age-related cognitive decline.
Mechanism of Action
L-threonate facilitates magnesium passage across the blood-brain barrier, raising synaptic magnesium and modulating NMDA receptor activity, density of synapses, and long-term potentiation. Also stabilizes neuronal excitability and supports BDNF expression.
Pharmacokinetics
Research Protocols
Disclaimer: These are commonly discussed research protocols and not medical advice.
Peptide Interactions
This is the canonical pairing — Magtein for brain Mg, glycinate/bisglycinate for systemic Mg. Glycinate also brings glycine, a co-agonist at NMDARs and a mil…
Both are NMDAR-system modulators — Mg is the channel block, citicoline supports membrane phospholipid substrate (PC) for synaptic membrane integrity. Already…
Mg is voltage-dependent NMDA block; agmatine is a GluN2B-preferential channel modulator with anti-glutamate-excitotoxicity effects. Complementary not redundant.
Both are GSK-3β / brain-protection adjuncts at micro-mineral doses; complementary not redundant. Particularly relevant for Dylan's subconcussive-impact conte…
Glutamate modulation upstream (via system Xc-); complementary to Mg's NMDAR-channel gating.
Mg supports sleep architecture; tryptophan/glycine supply substrate for serotonin/melatonin and GABAergic tone.
Theanine modulates GABA and reduces stress-spike cortisol; Mg supports the substrate. Top community combo (253 reports).
Membrane fluidity + Mg-dependent enzymes both upstream of NMDAR plasticity.
Mg is required for the activation of vitamin D (Mg-dependent CYP-mediated 25-hydroxylation in liver). Mg deficiency can blunt the response to vitamin D suppl…
Mg-B6 synergy is well-documented for sleep + mood — Zhang 2022 RCT formulation explicitly combined them.
Compete for absorption at TRPM6/7 transporters; separate by 2 h.
Mg chelates and reduces antibiotic absorption ~30-50%; separate by 2-4 h — dose Mg 2 h before or 4-6 h after the antibiotic.
What to Expect
- Week 1Tolerability and dose-response.
- Week 2-4Early effect window.
- Week 4-8Peak benefit assessment.
- Week 8+Cycle decision point.
Side Effects & Safety
- Common (>10%): Loose stool at >3 g Magtein/day; generally less than Mg oxide or citrate at equivalent elemental doses. Mild GI looseness in the first 3-7 days is typical and resolves.
- Less common (1-10%):
- Mild headache during the initial week (Mg-shift-related; resolves with continued use)
- Vivid dreams or unusually intense dream recall — often welcomed
- Mild evening sleepiness if dosed in the evening at the higher end (1.5-2 g PM); not problematic for sleep-focused users
- Mild dizziness or lightheadedness when standing if combined with antihypertensives or in already-low-BP users — Mg modestly lowers BP
- Rare-serious (<1%):
- Hypotension at very high Mg doses (>2 g elemental/day) — irrelevant at Magtein practical doses
- Renal Mg overload only in moderate-to-severe CKD (eGFR <30); contraindicated in dialysis without nephrologist supervision
- Theoretical: mineral-balance disruption (calcium, potassium) with very prolonged high-dose use — not clinically observed at standard doses
- Specific watch periods: None unique to Magtein.
- Pregnancy/breastfeeding: Mg is well-studied and considered safe in pregnancy at RDA-equivalent doses (IV Mg sulfate is routinely used for preeclampsia and preterm labor). However, Magtein specifically lacks pregnancy RCT data; conservative recommendation is to substitute with Mg glycinate during pregnancy, which has more historical use.
References
Lopresti & Smith 2026 — Magtein RCT 18-45 cognitive age + sleep (Frontiers in Nutrition)
n=100, 6 weeks, 2 g/day; 7.5-year cognitive age reduction
View StudyHausenblas et al. 2024 — MgT Oura-monitored sleep RCT 35-55 (Sleep Medicine: X)
n=80, 21 days, 1 g/day; deep sleep + REM gains
View StudyHausenblas et al. 2024 corrigendum (Sleep Medicine: X)
minor statistical correction
View StudyZhang et al. 2022 — Magtein PS-formula cognitive RCT in Chinese adults (Nutrients)
n=109, 30 days; all five WMS subscales improved
View StudySurman et al. 2021 — Magtein ADHD open-label pilot (J Dietary Supplements)
n=15, 12 weeks; 47% responder rate
View StudyLiu et al. 2016 — Magtein RCT in older adults with memory complaints (J Alzheimer's Dis)
n=44, 12 weeks, the foundational human RCT
View StudySlutsky et al. 2010 — original Magtein rat brain Mg + memory study (Neuron)
CSF Mg elevation + hippocampal synaptic density
View StudySun et al. 2016 — Magtein attenuates age-related memory decline (Mol Brain)
aging rats
View StudyAbumaria et al. 2011 — Magtein and fear extinction (J Neurosci)
anxiolytic / extinction-learning mechanism
View StudyLatest research
- rctMagnesium L-threonate (Magtein) reduces brain cognitive age by 7.5 years in healthy adults 18-45 — 6-week RCTLopresti & Smith 2026, Frontiers in Nutrition. n=100, 2 g/day Magtein × 6 weeks. Cognitive age (Cambridge Brain Sciences battery) dropped by ~7.5 years vs placebo; sleep quality and daytime functioning also improved. Largest healthy-adult Magtein RCT to date and the first to enroll Dylan's age band (18-45).
- rctMagnesium L-threonate improves sleep quality and daytime functioning in self-reported sleep problems — 21-day RCTHausenblas et al. 2024, Sleep Medicine: X. n=80 adults 35-55 with self-reported poor sleep, 1 g/day MgT × 21 days, Oura-monitored. Significant gains in deep sleep, REM sleep, daytime energy, mood, mental alertness vs placebo. First Oura-validated MgT sleep trial.
- rctMagtein-based formula improves cognitive function in healthy Chinese adults — 30-day RCTZhang et al. 2022, Nutrients. n=109 (51/51 completers), Magtein PS formula (2 g MgT + PS + B6 + C + D3) × 30 days. All five WMS subcategories improved significantly vs placebo; older participants showed larger gains. Formulation confound limits attribution to MgT alone, but supports the cognitive-enhancement signal.
How was your experience with this compound?
Anonymous · one vote per session · results below at 5+ votes.
See something off?
Most of this wiki is AI-generated. Suggest a correction, dosing update, or new evidence — we review every submission.