Magnesium Taurate’s Benefits and Safety

Megan Nunn, PharmD
·7 min read
1

Magnesium and taurine, the ingredients in magnesium taurate, may help lower blood pressure and protect the heart.

Medically reviewed by Melissa Nieves, LND

Magnesium taurate is a dietary supplement. Animal studies using this mineral complex have shown it protected against damage to the following:

  • Heart

  • Brain

  • Vision

However, studies in animals don't always translate to humans. And there aren't strong clinical trials in humans to confirm these effects.

Here's what you need to know about the nutritional and health benefits of magnesium taurate and some of its associated risks.



Magnesium Taurate Supplement Facts

  • Active Ingredient(s): Magnesium, taurine

  • Alternate Names(s): Magnesium;2-aminoethanesulfonate

  • Legal Status: Over-the-counter (OTC) dietary supplement in the United States

  • Suggested Dose: May vary based on condition and dosage form.

  • Safety Considerations: No safety data for pregnancy, breastfeeding, or children; magnesium taurate may interact with prescription medications, herbs, and supplements.



What Is Magnesium Taurate?

Magnesium taurate is a complex made of the mineral magnesium and an amino acid, taurine—two components with health benefits.

Magnesium regulates muscle contraction and maintains electrolyte balance in the body's tissues. It's also involved in bone development and the breakdown of sugars, fats, and protein.

Low magnesium levels, in general, are associated with conditions like the following:

Taurine protects the brain, heart, eyes, and muscles from damage and stress. It may help guard against obesity, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

Both magnesium and taurine decrease calcium and sodium levels in the body's cells. They've both been shown to lower blood pressure and help prevent arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) and blood clots.

Magnesium taurate has been studied in animal models to treat eye injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and high blood pressure, but human clinical trials are needed to verify its effects.

Nutrition

While the magnesium taurate complex is not found in food sources, magnesium alone is a common ingredient in many foods.

Magnesium-rich foods include the following:

  • Whole grains

  • Spinach

  • Broccoli

  • Seeds, like pumpkin and chia

  • Nuts, like almonds and cashews

High levels of taurine can be obtained by eating meats such as:

  • Shellfish

  • Mussels

  • Clams

  • Turkey

  • Chicken

Taurine is also a major ingredient in some energy drinks.

<p>Anastasiia Zabolotna / Getty Images</p> Magnesium tablets

Anastasiia Zabolotna / Getty Images

Magnesium tablets

Uses



Explainer

Supplement use should be individualized and vetted by a healthcare professional, such as a registered dietitian or registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), pharmacist, or healthcare provider. No supplement is intended to treat, cure, or prevent disease.



Some believe magnesium taurate benefits conditions such as:

However, there's not enough evidence to prove theses claims.

Magnesium taurate has been researched in preliminary studies (using animal models) for the following conditions:

Responses by animals may or may not be the same in humans. Large clinical trials are necessary before magnesium taurate can be recommended for these conditions.

Dosage



Explainer

Always speak with a healthcare provider before taking a supplement to ensure that the supplement and dosage are appropriate for your individual needs.



The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for magnesium in adults is between 310 and 420 milligrams (mg) daily.

Though there's not enough data to recommend magnesium taurate doses for specific conditions, as a general rule, keep your intake of elemental magnesium around this RDA. Magnesium taurate products should specify on their labels how much elemental magnesium is contained in each serving size. Typical doses of magnesium taurate range from 100 to 500 mg.

Speak to a pharmacist, RD or RDN, or healthcare provider for more help determining a good dose for you.

Safety

  • Avoid magnesium taurate if you're allergic to it or its components (parts).

  • Seek immediate medical attention if you have a severe allergic reaction (itching, hives, shortness of breath).

Side Effects

Your provider may recommend you take magnesium taurate for heart health or another reason. However, consuming a supplement like magnesium taurate may have potential side effects. These side effects may be common or severe.

Possible side effects include the following:

Interactions

Magnesium taurate could cause drug interactions based on either the magnesium or taurine component.

For example, magnesium may interact with the following medications:

  • Antibiotics: Magnesium can bind to antibiotics like doxycycline and ciprofloxacin, making them less effective. If you are on these antibiotics, be sure to take them two hours before or four hours after magnesium supplements.

  • Blood pressure medicines: Because magnesium taurate can lower blood pressure, taking it with blood pressure medications could cause hypotension (low blood pressure).

  • Cancer medicines: Some cancer drugs, like cisplatin, lower levels of magnesium. These medicines could counteract the effects of magnesium taurate.

  • Diuretics (water pills): Medicines like Lasix (furosemide) and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) lower levels of magnesium in the body and could counteract the effects of magnesium taurate.

  • Acid reflux medicines: Taking a class of medications called proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), which include omeprazole (Prilosec) and lansoprazole (Prevacid), can lower magnesium levels. These medicines could counteract the effects of magnesium taurate.

  • Osteoporosis medicines: Magnesium may decrease the effect of medicines like Fosamax (alendronate) that are used to increase bone strength in osteoporosis, a condition in which bone mass and density decrease. It's advised to separate this type of medicine from magnesium supplements by at least two hours.

Taurine may interact with substances such as the following:

  • Insulin and other diabetes medicines: Antidiabetic drugs may cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) if taken with taurine.

  • Alcohol: More research is needed, but there is an association between energy drinks and increased alcohol intake. It's unclear whether taurine, an ingredient in energy drinks, specifically is associated with alcohol consumption, but it's worth noting.

  • Caffeine: Taurine may decrease caffeine's cardiovascular side effects.

It is essential to carefully read a supplement's ingredients list and nutrition facts panel to know which ingredients and how much of each ingredient is included. Please review this supplement label with your healthcare provider to discuss potential interactions with foods, other supplements, and medications.

Precautions

Clinical trials in humans are needed to determine the safety profile of magnesium taurate. Until more is known, it's best to err on the side of caution.

Do keep the following precautions in mind when using magnesium taurate:

  • Severe allergic reaction: Avoid using magnesium taurate if you have a known allergy to it or its ingredients. Ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for a complete list of the ingredients if you're unsure.

  • Pregnancy: Magnesium taurate should not be used during pregnancy due to a lack of safety data. Ask your healthcare provider if another magnesium supplement is right for you if you're pregnant.

  • Breastfeeding: Magnesium taurate should not be used during breastfeeding due to a lack of safety data. Ask your healthcare provider if another magnesium supplement is right for you if you're nursing.

  • Children: Magnesium taurate should not be given to children due to a lack of safety data. Your child's pediatrician can guide you to an appropriate magnesium supplement if needed.

  • Other modifications: Magnesium is not generally recommended for people with kidney or neuromuscular disease.

Similar Supplements

Other magnesium supplements include the following:

Your healthcare provider, pharmacist, or registered dietitian can help you choose the right magnesium salt for your needs.



Explainer

Dietary supplements are not regulated like prescription medications in the United States. Therefore, some may be safer than others. When choosing a supplement, consider factors such as third-party testing, potential drug interactions, and other safety concerns. Talk to a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist about supplement quality and safety.



Summary

Until human clinical trials are conducted, it's too soon to recommend magnesium taurate for any condition. It has not been proven safe for children, or during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Potential drug interactions with magnesium taurate include medicines for diabetes, blood pressure, cancer, and antibiotics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does magnesium taurate have benefits vs. other magnesium supplements?

Magnesium taurate is touted as a good choice for heart protection, or for people with high blood pressure. These claims are backed by preclinical trials in rats, but because there aren't strong human clinical trials, magnesium taurate can't be recommended for these indications just yet.

What medicines may interact with magnesium taurate?

Many medications can interact with elemental magnesium and would be expected to also interact with magnesium taurate. A few examples include antibiotics, cancer medicines, and blood pressure medicines.

Substances that interact with taurine include diabetes medicines and possibly alcohol and caffeine. These could also interact with magnesium taurate.

Who should not take magnesium taurate?

Until more is known, children and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take this supplement. This is because there haven't been clinical trials in these groups to determine safe dosages.

In general, people with kidney disease or neuromuscular disorders should steer clear of magnesium supplements.

Read the original article on Verywell Health.