Magnesium Citrate 60 Tablets vs BetterYou Magnesium Body Spray
Side-by-side comparison of scores, ingredients, prices and real customer feedback for Magnesium Citrate 60 Tablets and BetterYou Magnesium Body Spray.
Last verified: 07 Apr 2026 · Based on 78 reviews
Magnesium Citrate 60 Tablets scores 77.0/100 vs BetterYou Magnesium Body Spray at 73.0/100. Magnesium Citrate 60 Tablets wins on effectiveness, side effects. BetterYou Magnesium Body Spray is stronger on ingredient quality and value for money.
Which is better: Magnesium Citrate 60 Tablets or BetterYou Magnesium Body Spray?
Solgar wins with a higher overall score (77 vs 73) and meaningfully better effectiveness (82 vs 62), making it the stronger choice for sleep and muscle cramp relief. BetterYou suits those who can't tolerate oral magnesium or want a topical pre-sleep ritual, though its transdermal absorption remains clinically unproven.
— AIScored Editorial Team
How Do the Scores Compare?
Magnesium Citrate 60 Tablets
Solgar
|
BetterYou Magnesium Body Spray
BetterYou
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 77.0 | 73.0 |
| Effectiveness |
82.0/100
Best
|
62.0/100 |
| Ingredient Quality | 86.0/100 |
90.0/100
Best
|
| Value for Money | 64.0/100 |
68.0/100
Best
|
| Side Effects |
91.0/100
Best
|
72.0/100 |
| Certifications | 58.0/100 |
92.0/100
Best
|
| Best Price | £12.00 Amazon UK → |
£8.33
Amazon UK →
Cheapest
|
| Price per Serving | £0.40 30 servings |
£0.04
200 servings
Best value
|
| Form | Tablet | Spray |
| Dose | 400mg (2 tablets) | 150mg per 5 sprays |
| Third-Party Tested | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Reviews Analysed | 65 | 13 |
Magnesium Citrate 60 Tablets
Pros
- ✓Magnesium citrate form offers superior bioavailability versus cheaper oxide or carbonate alternatives
- ✓Strong user-reported improvements in sleep quality and depth
- ✓Effective for muscle cramps, restless legs, and leg spasms
- ✓Clean formulation — free from gluten, wheat, dairy, soy; vegan and Kosher certified
Cons
- ✗Only 30 servings per bottle (60 tablets at 2/day) — relatively short supply for the price
- ✗No third-party testing (NSF, Informed Sport, USP) to verify label accuracy
- ✗Some iHerb reviews appear cross-contaminated from Solgar's Calcium+Magnesium product, reducing review signal clarity
- ✗Large tablet size flagged by a minority of users as difficult to swallow
Best For
BetterYou Magnesium Body Spray
Pros
- ✓Exceptionally clean formula — only Zechstein magnesium chloride and purified water, zero fillers or additives
- ✓Avoids GI side effects (loose stools, nausea) associated with oral magnesium supplements
- ✓Zechstein Inside certified source — one of the purest naturally occurring magnesium chloride deposits
- ✓Strong ethical certifications: Vegan Society, Leaping Bunny, Made in UK
Cons
- ✗Transdermal magnesium absorption has limited and contested clinical evidence compared to oral supplementation
- ✗Can cause a tingling or burning sensation on initial application, particularly on freshly shaved or sensitive skin
- ✗150mg per 5 sprays may require frequent reapplication to reach meaningful daily targets (recommended RDA ~300–400mg)
- ✗Topical application is less practical than a single daily tablet for consistent dosing
Best For
What does the data say about Magnesium Citrate 60 Tablets vs BetterYou Magnesium Body Spray?
These two products couldn't be more different in how they deliver magnesium to the body. Solgar's Magnesium Citrate (£12.00, score 77/100) is a straightforward oral supplement using citrate — a form that absorbs considerably better than the cheaper oxide or carbonate alternatives found in budget products. At 400mg per two-tablet serving, you're getting a clinically meaningful dose, though that means the 60-tablet bottle runs out in just 30 days. BetterYou's Magnesium Body Spray (£8.33, score 73/100) takes a completely different route — transdermal delivery via Zechstein magnesium chloride sprayed directly onto the skin. The formula itself is admirably clean: just two ingredients, which earns it a near-perfect 90/100 for ingredient quality. The catch is that the science behind transdermal magnesium absorption is genuinely contested, and BetterYou's 150mg per five sprays gives you far less certainty about how much actually reaches the bloodstream.
If you're dealing with poor sleep or leg cramps and want reliable, measurable results, Solgar is the more straightforward option. The oral route has decades of evidence behind it, and at 82/100 for effectiveness, users consistently report real improvements. It's not the best value at 64/100 — you'll need a new bottle every month — but it's the more clinically grounded choice. The spray makes more sense if your stomach doesn't tolerate oral magnesium well (loose stools being the most common complaint), or if you want something to work into a pre-sleep massage or localised muscle recovery routine after exercise.
On practical grounds, note that Solgar carries no third-party testing certification, whereas BetterYou has passed independent verification — worth knowing if label accuracy matters to you. The spray can cause a mild tingling sensation on sensitive or freshly shaved skin, so apply to thicker areas like calves or shoulders. Solgar's tablets are standard capsule size and straightforward to swallow. Neither product contains common allergens worth flagging for most users.
Solgar Magnesium Citrate delivers 400mg elemental magnesium per two-tablet serving in the bioavailable citrate form, backed by Solgar's 75-year reputation as a premium supplement brand.
What are the key differences?
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Magnesium Citrate 60 Tablets or BetterYou Magnesium Body Spray? ▼
Is Magnesium Citrate 60 Tablets worth the price compared to BetterYou Magnesium Body Spray? ▼
Which has fewer side effects? ▼
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What the Data Says
Why is magnesium oxide less effective than glycinate?
Oxide scores 21 points lower than glycinate in our testing — and it's not close on ingredient quality either. Across 17 magnesium products in our database, glycinate averages 74.3/100 overall. Oxide sits at 53/100. That's a gap you can feel.
The ingredient quality difference is even starker: 83.3 for glycinate vs 37.0 for oxide. A 46.3-point gap. The best glycinate in our database, Solgar Magnesium Glycinate 400mg, scores 80/100 overall with 88/100 on ingredient quality. The oxide product (Nature Made) manages just 52 on effectiveness and 37 on ingredient quality.
The reason is bioavailability. Magnesium oxide has roughly 4% absorption — most of it passes straight through your gut unused. Glycinate is chelated (bound to the amino acid glycine), which your intestines absorb much more efficiently. You also get fewer digestive side effects, since unabsorbed magnesium in the gut is what causes the laxative effect oxide is known for.
Oxide is cheap, which is why it's still everywhere. But cheap per pill means nothing if your body can't use it. Glycinate or citrate (avg 74.5/100) are both better choices.
Which form of magnesium is best for sleep, anxiety, or muscle cramps?
Glycinate for sleep and anxiety. Citrate for cramps. L-threonate for brain function. Each form has a different strength, and our scores back this up.
Sleep and anxiety → Glycinate. Averaging 74.3/100 across our database, with the best (Solgar Glycinate 400mg) hitting 80/100. Glycine, the amino acid it's bound to, acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter — it calms your nervous system on its own. That's a two-for-one benefit you don't get from other forms. Thorne Bisglycinate (74/100) is another solid option at a lower dose.
Muscle cramps → Citrate. Averaging 74.5/100 overall with 85.0 on ingredient quality. Citrate absorbs well and is gentler on your wallet than glycinate. Solgar Citrate leads the pack at 77/100. If cramps are your main issue, this is the practical choice.
Brain function → L-Threonate. Life Extension Neuro-Mag scores 73/100. This is the only form shown to meaningfully raise magnesium levels in the brain by crossing the blood-brain barrier. It's pricier, but nothing else does what it does.
All-round absorption → Doctor's Best High Absorption tops our entire magnesium database at 82/100 overall (83 effectiveness, 88 ingredient quality) using chelated magnesium.
The one form to skip? Oxide at 53/100. Its 4% absorption rate makes it a poor choice no matter what you're taking it for.
Disclaimer: AIScored provides data-driven comparisons based on publicly available reviews. This is not medical advice. Affiliate links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
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