Take sleep health, for example. Ms Stavridis says there are many conflicting studies on whether magnesium supplements really make a difference. Some trials say it can have some benefits, while some randomised controlled trials – the gold standard – are more sceptical.
There is also the added complication of supplements potentially working against each other because of the way they interact in the body.
Taking zinc, for example – a supplement often recommended for peri-menopausal women – can also affect the absorption rate of magnesium., external
Basically, Ms Stavridis says, it’s a minefield, and not just a simple case of “take this” and you’ll be fixed.
She recommends looking at diet first. But if you are thinking about taking magnesium supplements, Ms Stavridis advises taking half the amount recommended on the packet on a daily basis and seeing how you feel.
If healthy people take too much, their kidneys can get rid of it in “expensive urine”, but there are still risks, like diarrhoea, vomiting and nausea.
For those with kidney disease, taking magnesium supplements can be dangerous and can cause hypermagnesemia – a potentially life-threatening condition that can leave someone with paralysis or in a coma.
Dietitian Kirsten Jackson also says most people should “100% look at diet first”.
Foods like seeds, nuts, whole-grain breads, greens and fruit are good sources of magnesium, she says.
She warns that if you don’t regularly consume these types of foods, you’re probably also short of other essential nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin K, fibre and prebiotics too.
“One magnesium supplement is not going to sort all that.”