What is an optimal magnesium level?
The short answer
An optimal magnesium level is 2–2.3 mg/dL. That is Dr. Mark Hyman's number. You can watch him say it below.
Most labs call magnesium low only under 1.7. So your report can come back normal at 1.9 while you sit under the line he draws.
“normal quote normal serum magnesium levels are about 1.8 to 2.3 but I think anything under two is linked to increased health risks and Optimum level should be over two so if you're getting a serum magnesium it should be over two”
Where a number lands, and who said so
- under 1.7 mg/dL Most labs flag this as low
- 1.7–2 mg/dL Normal on most reports. Below optimal
- 2–2.3 mg/dL The range Dr. Mark Hyman draws Dr. Mark Hyman · 11:58 →
- over 2.3 mg/dL Above optimal
What magnesium measures
The magnesium moving through your blood — a small fraction of what your bones and muscles hold.
Your tissue holds most of it, so the blood level can look fine while your stores run low.
Checked against MedlinePlus — Magnesium Blood Test.
One of the doctors we cite, on why it matters
“normal quote normal serum magnesium levels are about 1.8 to 2.3 but I think anything under two is linked to increased health risks and Optimum level should be over two so if you're getting a serum magnesium it should be over two”
Common questions
What is an optimal magnesium level?
2–2.3 mg/dL, according to Dr. Mark Hyman.
What is a normal magnesium level?
Most US labs print 1.7–2.2 mg/dL. Your report grades you against that range. It exists to catch disease, not to describe your best.
What does your magnesium number mean?
Under 1.7 mg/dL, your report marks it low. Between 1.7 and 2.2 it prints as normal. Over 2.2, your report marks it high. Where the people we follow draw their own line is above.
Is magnesium of 1.9 normal?
Your lab will call it normal. Dr. Mark Hyman puts the floor at 2 mg/dL, so by that number it is low.
Do they all agree?
No. Dr. Rhonda Patrick puts the line somewhere else: “so our body will just continually pull from our bones to prevent magnesium levels from going below 0.7 m per liter for this reason plasma magnesium is not a good indicator of magnesium statu”
What does the magnesium test measure?
The magnesium moving through your blood — a small fraction of what your bones and muscles hold. Your tissue holds most of it, so the blood level can look fine while your stores run low.
Where does this number come from?
Dr. Mark Hyman, on video. The link above jumps straight to that minute.
They don't all draw the line in the same place
“so our body will just continually pull from our bones to prevent magnesium levels from going below 0.7 m per liter for this reason plasma magnesium is not a good indicator of magnesium status for most healthy adults”