Potential magnesium taurate benefits include improved cholesterol, blood pressure, and muscle function. However, many of these benefits are only supported by animal studies, and there aren’t strong clinical trials in humans to confirm many of these effects.

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What Are the Benefits of 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 proteins.

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

Studies investigating the combined benefits of magnesium taurate are limited. However, there are studies investigating the benefits of each mineral separately.

  • May lower blood pressure: Limited research connects magnesium to a decrease in blood pressure in specific populations, such as those with insulin resistance or prediabetes. And at least one study links taurine supplementation to healthier blood pressure levels. But in the general population, researchers are still unsure of whether or not magnesium or magnesium taurine supplements provide this benefit.
  • May help regulate blood sugar: Studies suggest that taurine supplementation may be helpful in regulating blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. In fact, study authors have even suggested that taurine supplementation may be considered as an option for diabetes management, although they also suggest that more research is needed.
  • May help regulate heart rate: Being deficient in magnesium may lead to an abnormal heart rhythm, also called arrhythmia. But it is unclear if supplementing with the mineral prevents an irregular heartbeat in the general public. There is some evidence suggesting it may help pediatric patients after surgery, but studies in the general population have yielded mixed results.
  • Might impact blood clotting activity: There are limited studies investigating the role of magnesium supplementation on blood clotting activity. Limited animal research suggested that magnesium in combination with other compounds may help reduce clotting time and clotting breakdown. However, another older report suggests that magnesium increases clotting time in plasma and in whole blood. Study authors suggest that more research is needed.
  • May improve blood cholesterol levels: At least one study has shown that taurine supplementation may help promote healthier cholesterol metabolism and lower blood and liver cholesterol levels. But again, this was a rodent study conducted over the course of 14-16 weeks. It is unclear if this benefit extends to humans.
  • May reduce stress: Studies have shown that people experiencing psychological stress often have low magnesium levels. And some studies suggest that supplementing with magnesium may help reduce this stress. But study authors also acknowledge that the link more research is needed. Animal studies have also suggested that taurine may have antidepressant effects, but studies in humans are lacking.
  • May promote better sleep: Low magnesium levels may interfere with a good night’s sleep. But research regarding magnesium supplementation and improved sleep has yielded mixed results. Still, one of the most popular uses of magnesium supplements is for better sleep.
  • May promote better muscle function: At least one study has suggested that magnesium supplementation can help reduce muscle soreness after exercise and improve muscle performance during exercise. Additionally, taurine has been shown to reduce muscle inflammation and improve muscle strength in patients with certain forms of muscular dystrophy.

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

In addition, some believe magnesium taurate benefits conditions such as:

However, there’s not enough evidence yet to prove these claims.

How Much Magnesium Taurate Should I Take?

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.

Very limited (and older) clinical data suggest that doses of magnesium taurate range from 100 to 500 mg. Speak to a pharmacist, RD, RDN, or healthcare provider for more help determining a good dose for you.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate dietary supplements the way it regulates prescription medications. As a result, some supplement products may not contain the ingredients listed on the label. When choosing a supplement, look for products independently tested or certified by organizations such as the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), United States Pharmacopeia (USP), or ConsumerLab. For personalized guidance, consult your healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.

Should I Worry About Magnesium Taurate Safety?
Side Effects

Your provider may recommend that 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 (especially if you take high levels) 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: Since taurine may have blood-sugar-lowering properties, you should speak to your provider before combining taurine with antidiabetic drugs.
  • 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 have adverse effects on the cardiovascular system when combined with caffeine, especially in energy drinks. The effect may be more concerning in adolescents.

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.

Other 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.

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.

Which Supplements Are Similar?

Other magnesium supplements include the following:

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

Magnesium Taurate Supplement Facts

  • Active Ingredient(s): Magnesium, taurine
  • Alternate Names(s): 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.

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

Key Takeaways

  • Magnesium taurate studies are extremely limited. Most purported benefits are based on studies that focus on either magnesium or taurate individually.
  • The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for magnesium in adults is between 310 and 420 mg daily. There is no established RDA for taurine.
  • Taking high levels of magnesium can cause stomach problems. Both supplements may interfere with certain medications so it is important to speak to your provider before taking this or any supplement.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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Megan Nunn headshot

By Megan Nunn, PharmD

Nunn is a community pharmacist in Tennessee with 12 years of experience in medication counseling and immunization.

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