Is Magnesium the Cure-All I Think It Is?

A bottle of Blackmores magnesium supplement.

Photographer: Brendon Thorne/Bloomberg

Hi, it’s Kristen in New York. A reader wants to know if magnesium really is the cure-all some purport it to be. But before we get to that topic...

I have recently found many reputable websites that refer to magnesium as a beneficial treatment for long Covid, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and even weight loss. This would be a more natural way to address these problems while also financially feasible for many. Does it really work? — KR, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Magnesium plays an incredibly important role in human health. It’s a mineral that occurs naturally in our bodies, as well as in many foods. And its presence is necessary for vital bodily functions, such as energy production and blood-pressure regulation.

Which helps explain why magnesium is having a bit of a moment.

Recently, on TikTok some users have been raving about magnesium oil spray as a fix for everything from sleeplessness to muscle soreness. Many also ingest it as a supplement for a variety of ailments.