Nature Made Magnesium Glycinate won our magnesium comparison (87/100), so the point of this page isn’t to knock it — it’s to give you the honest side-effect and complaint notes a shopper should weigh anyway. Everything here is dated, and we separate what’s a general property of magnesium from what’s specific to this product.
The loose-stool question is about form and dose
Magnesium’s best-known side effect is loose stools, diarrhea and GI upset — and it’s real. But it is form- and dose-dependent, and that distinction is the whole reason this product scores well. Cheap magnesium oxide is poorly absorbed and citrate is mildly laxative at dose, so both are more likely to send you to the bathroom. Bisglycinate (glycinate) — magnesium bound to the amino acid glycine — is the well-absorbed, gut-gentle form, the one people tolerate best. It’s the form we’d default to precisely because it’s least likely to cause that problem. Dose matters too: this bottle’s 200 mg of elemental magnesium sits sensibly below the 350 mg supplemental upper limit, the threshold above which loose stools get more likely regardless of form. So while no magnesium can promise zero GI effects, glycinate at a sensible dose is the gentlest combination on the shelf.
The complaint themes worth knowing
Safety in short
For most healthy adults, glycinate at 200 mg is a gentle, low-risk supplement. Magnesium can interact with certain medications and accumulate when kidney function is reduced, so if you have kidney problems, take prescription drugs, or are pregnant or nursing, run it past a clinician first. That’s standard for any magnesium product — and this is the form and dose least likely to give you trouble in the first place. The full scorecard is in the review, and the per-serving math is in the cost breakdown.
Frequently asked questions
Does Nature Made Magnesium Glycinate cause diarrhea or loose stools?
It’s the least likely magnesium to. Loose stools are form- and dose-dependent: cheap oxide and citrate are the usual culprits, while glycinate is the well-absorbed, gut-gentle form. At a sensible 200 mg — below the 350 mg supplemental ceiling — GI upset is uncommon, though no magnesium can promise zero.
Is Nature Made Magnesium Glycinate vegan or vegetarian?
No. The capsule uses gelatin, so it isn’t vegetarian or vegan, and it contains soy. If you avoid animal products or soy, check the label and choose a different glycinate in a plant-based capsule.
Is it safe to take every day?
For most healthy adults, glycinate at 200 mg daily is gentle and low-risk. Magnesium can interact with some medications and build up when kidney function is reduced, so if you have kidney problems, take prescription drugs, or are pregnant or nursing, check with your doctor first.
Sources
- Nature Made — official product page and supplement facts for Magnesium Glycinate 200 mg (200 mg elemental as bisglycinate; gelatin and soy in the capsule; USP Verified mark shown). Checked July 2026. naturemade.com
- The Ingredient Report — magnesium glycinate ingredient guide (form- and dose-dependent GI effects; glycinate is the gentle, well-absorbed default; 350 mg supplemental upper limit) and the Nature Made review (87/100). Checked July 2026.
Update history
- July 17, 2026 — Page first published. Facts checked this date. Next check: August 2026.
Content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Medical disclaimer.