I recently came across a social media post claiming that rubbing magnesium oil on the bottom of your feet every night before bed provides several benefits. The social media post attributed this nightly regimen to “suddenly your insulin & cortisol levels are balancing out and you finally have the metabolism of a 20-year-old, your hair is thick, you no longer crave sugar after every meal, and you don’t need caffeine to function anymore.”
Obviously, those are some sensational claims. So sensational that I wasn’t sure if it was a satirical post or if it was serious. Either way, it motivated me to go down the topical magnesium rabbit hole, and I found a study from July 2017 that provided some insight. The study was led by researchers in Germany, and their findings were published in the academic journal Nutrients.
“In the following review, we evaluated the current literature and evidence-based data on transdermal magnesium application and show that the propagation of transdermal magnesium is scientifically unsupported.” the researchers stated.
“The effectiveness of oral magnesium supplementation for the treatment of magnesium deficiency has been studied in detail. However, the proven and well-documented oral magnesium supplementation has become questioned in the recent years through intensive marketing for its transdermal application (e.g., magnesium-containing sprays, magnesium flakes, and magnesium salt baths).” the researchers also stated.
“In both, specialist and lay press as well as on the internet, there are increasing numbers of articles claiming the effectiveness and superiority of transdermal magnesium over an oral application. It is claimed that the transdermal absorption of magnesium in comparison to oral application is more effective due to better absorption and fewer side effects as it bypasses the gastrointestinal tract.” the researchers wrote.
“Magnesium might be able to get into the lymphatic system beneath the dermis and enter the circulatory system, bypassing the regulation through the GI tract and hereby increasing serum magnesium. However, we cannot yet recommend the application of transdermal magnesium.” the researchers concluded.
In laypeople’s terms, the mere claim that the human skin can absorb enough magnesium via topical applications like sprays and oils to provide meaningful benefits to someone’s health is not necessarily supported by science.
Online claims that topical magnesium products applied to the bottom of your feet do anything, including the list of items quoted at the start of this article, should be met with skepticism.
***
Disclaimer: The contents of this article and this website are not meant to substitute for the professional advice of a doctor, nutritionist, and/or certified personal trainer. This content is provided as an educational tool to help people on their fitness journeys. While we strive to research topics as much as possible and provide useful and accurate information to the best of our abilities, we also strongly recommend talking to your doctor, nutritionist, and/or certified personal trainer before starting any workout, therapeutic, or nutritional regimen, as each individual’s needs and situations vary depending on the person.