Can You Use Magnesium to Treat Acid Reflux

Magnesium Citrate Causes Acid Reflux?

The most common causes of acid reflux are: 1) high salt intake; 2) dietary fiber; 3) alcohol consumption; 4) smoking; 5) stress.

1. High Salt Intake

High sodium diets increase blood pressure, which may lead to heartburn.

2. Dietary Fiber

Dietary fiber helps reduce cholesterol levels, but it also reduces absorption of calcium from food. Calcium loss may contribute to bone loss and osteoporosis. (1) If you eat too much sugar or refined carbohydrates, your body converts them into fat and releases hormones that cause acid reflux symptoms. (2)

3. Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol increases the amount of gastric juices and acids. These acids irritate the lining of your esophagus causing acid reflux. (3)

4. Smoking

Smoking damages the lining of your esophagus and causes damage to your esophageal mucosa, which makes it easier for bacteria to enter your digestive system and cause inflammation. (4)

5. Stress

Stress increases your muscle tension, which causes your stomach to push acids further up into your esophagus. (5)

Magnesium Citrate

Magnesium citrate is one of the most common treatments for acid reflux. The standard dose is two 400 mg magnesium citrate tablets taken before bedtime. Magnesium citrate helps reduce muscle spasms in the digestive tract and normalizes muscle contractions.

Magnesium hydroxide is a chemical combination of magnesium and water. It works as a type of antacid and raises the pH balance of the stomach acid, making the environment less acidic. The most common side effects are diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, upset stomach and headache. If you have kidney disease you should not take magnesium hydroxide. (6)

Magnesium citrate can also cause heartburn, bloating and diarrhea. (7) Magnesium citrate can reduce the amount of phosphate in your urine and can cause kidney stones. (8, 9)

Magnesium Citrate and Acid Reflux

The stomach is filled with hydrochloric acid. Magnesium reacts with hydorchloric acid in the stomach causing hydrogen gas to form. This gas causes the bubbles that you see when you take a bottle of soda or beer.

Magnesium citrate reduces excessive stomach acid due to its alkalinizing effect. Magnesium hydroxide or citrate is used to treat heartburn, GERD, ulcers and dyspepsia. (10)

Does magnesium citrate cause acid reflux?

This is a common question, especially since magnesium citrate is a common antacid and treatment for heartburn. Magnesium has a neutralizing effect on stomach acid, which can reduce the amount of acid in the digestive tract.

Does magnesium citrate cause heartburn?

Magnesium does not cause or increase heartburn or GERD.

Magnesium Citrate and GERD

Does magnesium citrate cure gerd?

This is a common question since so many people are taking magnesium citrate to prevent or treat acid reflux.

Magnesium citrate can help prevent acid reflux and GERD, but it does not cure GERD. The longer you take magnesium citrate the more effective it becomes as a treatment for acid reflux. It can take up to a week for it to take effect. The antacid works by neutralizing the acid in the stomach and reducing muscle spasms in the esophagus.

Does magnesium citrate stop heartburn?

Magnesium citrate for heartburn works by reducing the amount of acid in the stomach. It can also temporarily reduce muscle contractions in the esophagus, which helps food move more smoothly through the digestive tract and reduces the risk of acid reflux.

Does magnesium citrate cause cancer?

There is no evidence that magnesium citrate causes cancer.

How long does it take magnesium citrate to work?

Most people start feeling relief in the first few days of treatment. It can take up to a week before you experience complete relief from acid reflux.

Is magnesium citrate gluten free?

Magnesium citrate is gluten free and safe for people with celiac disease.

Does magnesium citrate expire?

Sources & references used in this article:

Effect of magnesium alginate plus simethicone on gastroesophageal reflux in infants by D Ummarino, E Miele, M Martinelli… – Journal of pediatric …, 2015 – journals.lww.com

Treatment of heartburn and acid reflux associated with nausea and vomiting during pregnancy by R Law, C Maltepe, P Bozzo, A Einarson – Canadian Family Physician, 2010 – cfp.ca

Acid reflux treatment for hoarseness by C Hopkins, U Yousaf… – Cochrane Database of …, 2006 – cochranelibrary.com

Efficacy of alginate-based reflux suppressant and magnesium-aluminium antacid gel for treatment of heartburn in pregnancy: a randomized double-blind … by P Meteerattanapipat, V Phupong – Scientific Reports, 2017 – nature.com

Domperidone plus magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide: a valid therapy in children with gastroesophageal reflux: a double-blind randomized study versus … by A Carroccio, G Iacono, G Montalto… – Scandinavian journal …, 1994 – Taylor & Francis

Therapeutic uses of magnesium by MP Guerrera, SL Volpe, JJ Mao – American family physician, 2009 – aafp.org

Association of Long-Term Proton Pump Inhibitor Therapy with Bone Fractures and Effects on Absorption of Calcium, Vitamin B12, Iron, and Magnesium by T Ito, RT Jensen – Current gastroenterology reports, 2010 – Springer

Transoral, flexible endoscopic suturing for treatment of GERD: a multicenter trial by CJ Filipi, GA Lehman, RI Rothstein, I Raijman… – Gastrointestinal …, 2001 – Elsevier