Magnesium for Anxiety
Magnesium shows a real but modest signal for easing anxiety and stress, with the clearest effects in people who start out deficient or severely stressed. It is a reasonable adjunct, not a proven standalone treatment, and is best viewed as preliminary.
Why this grade7-layer evidence engine
The grade reflects a consistent-but-weak evidence base rather than strong proof. Two systematic reviews (PMID 38817505; PMID 28445426) conclude the data are "suggestive of a beneficial effect," but limited by small, heterogeneous, poor-quality trials. In the 2024 review, 5 of 7 anxiety trials improved, with the largest reductions when 300 mg magnesium was combined with other actives rather than used alone.
The randomized trials point to subgroup-driven benefit. A single-blind RCT in adults with low magnesium (PMID 30562392, n=264) cut stress ~42-44% in both arms, with magnesium plus vitamin B6 superior only in the severe/extreme-stress subgroup; its secondary analysis (PMID 33210604) found benefit concentrated in low-baseline-magnesium subjects. A small double-blind trial in children with ADHD (PMID 32089804, n=66) paired magnesium with vitamin D, so it cannot isolate magnesium's effect.
Authorities stop short of endorsing it for anxiety. The FDA classifies magnesium only as a "nutrient supplement" and EFSA as "a cofactor of more than 300 enzymatic reactions"; NHS notes most people "should be able to get all the magnesium you need by eating." Clinics hedge: Mayo says it "might help with anxiety," Cleveland cites "some evidence," and Harvard calls the evidence "more limited" - none recommend it as treatment.
Scoring transparency
All scores computed by a 7-layer evidence engine — fully auditable▸View the full decision path (audit trail)
- compute_raw_score — 加權公式: L2×0.30 + L3×0.25 + L5×0.25 + L11×0.10 + L1×0.10 = 0.6
- tier_from_score — 依分數區間映射至 tier letter
- apply_hec_rules — 高品質 SR/MA 顯示 positive (1 篇 > 0 negative)
- tier_strict_requirement_check — Tier 條件達標，未降階
- detect_disputes — 偵測到 0 個 hard + 0 個 soft dispute
- decide_status — 依 tier + dispute 結果決定 status