Magnesium Citrate 60 Tablets vs Magnesium Bisglycinate 200mg
Side-by-side comparison of scores, ingredients, prices and real customer feedback for Magnesium Citrate 60 Tablets and Magnesium Bisglycinate 200mg.
Last verified: 07 Apr 2026 · Based on 74 reviews
Magnesium Citrate 60 Tablets scores 77.0/100 vs Magnesium Bisglycinate 200mg at 74.0/100. Magnesium Citrate 60 Tablets wins on effectiveness, value for money, side effects. Magnesium Bisglycinate 200mg is stronger on ingredient quality and certifications.
Which is better: Magnesium Citrate 60 Tablets or Magnesium Bisglycinate 200mg?
Solgar wins with a higher overall score (77 vs 74) and stronger real-world user evidence for sleep and cramps, plus a clear price point of £12. Thorne's NSF Certified for Sport accreditation makes it the better pick for athletes or those who need verified purity guarantees.
— AIScored Editorial Team
How Do the Scores Compare?
Magnesium Citrate 60 Tablets
Solgar
|
Magnesium Bisglycinate 200mg
Thorne
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 77.0 | 74.0 |
| Effectiveness |
82.0/100
Best
|
71.0/100 |
| Ingredient Quality | 86.0/100 |
88.0/100
Best
|
| Value for Money |
64.0/100
Best
|
60.0/100 |
| Side Effects |
91.0/100
Best
|
86.0/100 |
| Certifications | 58.0/100 |
90.0/100
Best
|
| Best Price |
£12.00
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Cheapest
|
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| Price per Serving | £0.40 30 servings | N/A |
| Form | Tablet | N/A |
| Dose | 400mg (2 tablets) | N/A |
| Third-Party Tested | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Reviews Analysed | 65 | 9 |
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
Magnesium Bisglycinate 200mg
Pros
- ✓Bisglycinate chelate form offers superior absorption and bioavailability vs. oxide or sulfate forms
- ✓Minimal gastrointestinal side effects — significantly less likely to cause loose stools than cheaper magnesium forms
- ✓Thorne Research holds NSF Certified for Sport certification — rigorous third-party purity and potency verification
- ✓Free from common allergens, artificial additives, and unnecessary fillers
Cons
- ✗Premium price point — noticeably more expensive than standard magnesium oxide supplements
- ✗No usable product-specific user reviews available — provided reviews are from an unrelated UK beekeeping company
- ✗Multiple capsules per day may be needed to reach clinically studied therapeutic doses (310–420mg elemental)
- ✗Capsule size can be large for some users
Best For
What does the data say about Magnesium Citrate 60 Tablets vs Magnesium Bisglycinate 200mg?
The main difference between these two comes down to dose and form. Solgar's Magnesium Citrate delivers 400mg per serving (taking 2 tablets), while Thorne's Bisglycinate offers 200mg. Citrate absorbs well and gets quick results for sleep and muscle cramps—many users report noticeable improvements within days. Bisglycinate, however, uses a chelated form that's gentler on the stomach, making it better if you tend towards loose stools with other magnesium products. Solgar scores slightly higher at 77.0 out of 100 versus Thorne's 74.0, though both rate well for ingredient quality (Solgar at 86.0, Thorne at 88.0).
Price-wise, Solgar costs £12.00 for 30 servings, which sounds reasonable until you realise that's only 60 tablets—roughly a month's supply. Thorne's cost isn't listed here, though it's known as a premium brand. Choose Solgar if you want a higher dose, faster results, and a tighter budget. Choose Thorne if you have a sensitive stomach or prefer the smaller, gentler dose. Neither product carries third-party testing certification.
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 Magnesium Bisglycinate 200mg? ▼
Is Magnesium Citrate 60 Tablets worth the price compared to Magnesium Bisglycinate 200mg? ▼
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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