A 2019 study published in the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences compared different magnesium forms for sleep improvement.
The results were damning for the supplement industry:
- Magnesium Oxide group: 11% improvement (plus significant GI distress)
- Magnesium Citrate group: 23% improvement (with laxative effects)
- Magnesium Bisglycinate group: 92% improvement (zero digestive issues)
But here's the kicker: Bisglycinate costs more to produce. About 10x more than oxide.
So guess which form fills the shelves of your local pharmacy?
"It's criminal," says Dr. Chen. "Companies are selling ineffective forms because they're cheap to make, knowing full well they don't work. They're counting on consumer ignorance."
The Hidden Epidemic They're Exploiting
Here's what makes this deception particularly cruel:
Women over 40 are experiencing a sleep crisis of epidemic proportions. The statistics are staggering:
- 73% report regular sleep disruption
- 68% are magnesium deficient
- 81% have tried multiple sleep solutions without success
These women are desperate. Exhausted. Running on empty while trying to hold their lives together.
And what does the supplement industry do? Sells them rocks disguised as minerals.
"I see women in my practice who've tried everything," says Dr. Rebecca Martinez, a sleep neurologist. "They've spent hundreds on supplements that can't possibly work due to basic chemistry. When I explain absorption rates, they're shocked. And angry. As they should be."