I don't know a way to make supplemental magnesium work without a diarrheal effect. Perhaps you could alter your diet a bit, adding foods like mackerel, dark chocolate, and perhaps dairy, if you tolerate it. FWIW, you might not need the extra magnesium, though some folks will swear that you do. Good luck!

Thank you for the suggestions Scott. Unfortunately I'm vegan, so only the chocolate would work. I have had magnesium deficiency over the years but go into denial Everytime I am not successful with supplements. I am going to try transdermal.

FWIW, dark chocolate has a *lot* of magnesium. Good luck!

Hmm. I will totally look into that!

Have you tried Mg-Threonate , Taurate and/or Malate?

Yes to Malate, no to the others. But every time I try the highly, easily absorbable ones I get the same result. That Mg-Threonate looks really interesting. I would love to try it, but I think it's not going to be any different in the gut than the other "best ones."

Have you tried these with success?

Yes on the Taurate but is was a long time ago.

I take Magnesium glycinate by Pure Encapsulations, and do not get diarrhea from it. I do however, take only 1 at a time, with meals. They are 120 mg each. I'm very sensitive to getting diarrhea from magnesium too, although since I have a Koch pouch instead of a J Pouch, it's not as detrimental.

Hmm I used to use colosan or oxypowder (or Epsom salts) as a cleanse back when I had a colon, so I know the effect you are describing lol

Have you tried ZMA (make sure it's a proper SNAC formulation).  I don't take it religiously, but took it while I was healing from operation and not noticed any problems.  I find it quite hard to take, because it has to be on an empty stomach and also away from other vitamins and minerals because it affects absorbstion.. IE can't take with calcium otherwise neither get absorbed.

My morning empty stomach is reserved for probiotics.  I use 'my protein' brand as fairly cheap and good quality.  If you can wait a week or 2i will start taking it religiously and let you know (but your experience may differ anyway)

here is a great article: http://theheartysoul.com/powerful-relaxation-mineral/

And from the NIH: Groups at Risk of Magnesium Inadequacy, People with gastrointestinal diseases: Resection or bypass of the small intestine, especially the ileum, typically leads to malabsorption and magnesium loss. -That's Us!

I assume this is also why you are interested in Mg not just for anxiety. I have struggled with this also. I used to take Mg Oxide in the past with terrible results. I now use topical Life-Flo Magnesium Lotion (Mg Chloride Brine)  there are also oils and gels. I also try to bathe with Epsom salts (Mg Sulfate) as often as possible.

A nice description of Mg bonds, absorption and Ca, Mg competition, here: http://peoplesrx.com/the-best-...f-magnesium-for-you/

Of Interest, haven't tried it yet: Carolyn Dean MD - Remag here: https://www.rnareset.com/colle...;variant=13899661319

The spark of life

• Dr. Dean's Pico Meter Magnesium - 8.1 oz. bottle
• Activates 700-800 body enzyme systems
• 100% absorbed at the cellular level
• No laxative effect

I've listened to Dr. Dean on a couple of podcasts recently: one being:

http://www.extremehealthradio.com/

Episode 514

I just started taking Magnesium Orotate to give it a try -should be better with absorption, but a little pricey. I have some other issues going on that I am addressing one being mitochondrial function, but that is another story.

https://drnibber.com/understan...-types-of-magnesium/

Most of us have not had our small intestines resected or bypassed. A small amount of the ileum is fashioned into a J-pouch, but that generally doesn't affect function appreciably. So we can sometimes have absorption issues, but that's the exception rather than the rule.

I agree,  though a little more of my ileum was refashioned as I have a S-pouch of 29 yrs. ago. I think the topical Mg is definitely the way to go but I am still interested in Dr. Dean's "No laxative effect" claim -seems to good to be true, will possibly give it a go and report.

I would consider the standard American diet lacking in proper mineral support, I doubt none of us eat a SAD diet, but with a modified gut and thus a modified gut microbiome environment and processing time, we all should consider the long-term effect on the enteric nervous system and the "gut-brain connection". Lots of things come into play when nervous system communication by the vagus nerve may be communicating confused/unexpected parasympathetic feed-back due to our unique plumbing: For me, I would line up issues such as sleep disruption, memory disruption, anxiety: take a look here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3Ftj5E90tY

My complaint of the SAD is not necessarily RDA's of vitamins and minerals, but  the structure of the food pyramid the inclusion of such high macro carbohydrates levels interfering with the absorption of vits and mins within our abbreviated digestive tracts. 

I find all this interesting as I have been dealing with my S-pouch for 29 years, with little to no problems functionally, until recently what I believe are the downstream long-term effects of my modified microbiome environment -I am just hypothesizing, but lots of people to follow may bump into similar issues and  something like Mg levels may be the canary in the coal mine. Just my 2 cents. 

   -if one would like to know their serum Mg just as a quantified self experiment it is super cheap and super simple: http://www.lifeextension.com/V...ium-serum-Blood-Test

Regards

I use magnesium threonate and have no ill effects. It's a newer type of mag. that is supposed to be be highly absorbable. It's also touted as the only form of mag. that crosses the blood-brain barrier. You can read more about this at the Mercola and other websites.

One note on the magnesium test mentioned in the prior entry: Magnesium is best measured using the mag. RBC test, which measures the amount of mag. within red blood cells, which is where you want it to be. On the other hand, the magnesium serum test measures mag. floating around in your blood, which isn't valuable info.

Rose

 There are great transdermal magnesium sprays. You spray on your skin so no GI effects.  I use one from 'better you'

Hi Claire, I've been using the spray. I wonder if I'll notice any difference. Where do you spray it on your body? How many times a day? Have you noticed a difference?

I spray in a mixture of areas, don't notice anything but I was taking too much and it made my heart beat irregularly! So I keep to a smaller number of sprays now

Wow! Good to know! Thanks!

Magnesium is best absorbed through the skin, so epsom salt baths regularly are the way to go. There are also magnesium sprays, but they can be hot on the skin... it's hard to describe.   If I take it as a supplement in any form I get seriously loose bowels, and it's not safe to sleep! LOL!

Also add a pinch of salt (I use the pink Himalayan) to your water.  

I have just been reading up on magnesium. I have spasms of pelvic floor which seems to be common in jpouch patients. (Recent research study states up to 75%of us suffer from it) So I’m going to try magnesium.. fingers crossed. 

Peggy Schirmer, a German with extensive education in healthy living, has lots of videos on various topics, including a couple video explanations of what to look for/what to avoid in magnesium supplements. They aren't hype and she isn't selling. They can be viewed on YouTube/GutFeelings/PeggySchirmer. I've started watching them when I have time. Her explanations are clear and make sense. 

She says that magnesium glycinate is gentle on the gut and is good for the entire body. Mag. threonate, also purported to be gentle on the gut, is excellent for brain health, as it crosses the brain barrier. Magnesium chloride can be applied to the skin, thereby bypassing the gut entirely. All 3 forms are good for relaxation. 

One thing to watch out for is chelated magnesium bisglycinate/glycinate that is buffered. Buffered sounds like it might be gentle on the gut, but it usually means that it is buffered with magnesium oxide, which can cause horrendous diarrhea, thereby negating the value of the magnesium. 

I've just started taking Pure Encapsulations Magnesium, which was mentioned above by DG78. It contains little other than mag. glycinate. Also pop mag. threonate when I can, but this has a much lower mg. count. Will let you know how this goes (so to speak).

Rose

I take Pure magnesium glycinate  (120 mg) also at night after dinner with no bad effects.