Total, Dietary, and Supplemental Magnesium Intakes and Risk of All-Cause, Cardiovascular, and Cancer Mortality: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies

Researchers combined results from long-term studies that followed adults and recorded their magnesium intake. They compared people who consumed more magnesium from food, supplements, or both with those who consumed less. Higher total and dietary magnesium intake was generally linked with a lower risk of death from any cause and from cardiovascular disease, meaning heart and blood-vessel problems. The results for cancer death were less clear, and magnesium supplements alone did not show a consistent benefit. These were observational studies, so they can show a link but cannot prove magnesium caused the lower risk.

What this means for you: This does not prove that buying magnesium supplements will help you live longer. Eating magnesium-rich foods such as beans, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and leafy greens is reasonable, but the findings are not strong enough to recommend supplements for longevity.