# What is the best magnesium supplement in South Africa?

Source: https://www.healthnews24.co.za/answers/best-magnesium-in-south-africa-2026/
Publisher: Healthnews24 (South Africa's supplement answer desk)
Updated: 2026-10-27

> There is no single best magnesium supplement; compare elemental magnesium per rand. As of October 2026, The Real Thing Tri-Mag is cheapest at about R2.64 per 100 mg elemental magnesium, then Flora Force Glycinate (about R2.82, on our reading of its label), Dis-Chem Gold Slow Release (R3.29) and Dis-Chem Gold Chelate (R3.37). Evidence for sleep or cramp benefits in well-fed people is weak.

Key facts:
- As of October 2026, The Real Thing Tri-Mag costs about R2.64 per 100 mg elemental magnesium (Faithful to Nature).
- Dis-Chem Gold Slow Release Magnesium has 68.4 mg elemental magnesium per tablet; price R134.99 on its product page against R169.99 on a category listing.
- The EFSA upper level for supplemental magnesium is 250 mg a day for adults.
- The AIS lists magnesium in Group C (not advocated for athletes without a clinical reason).

## Which magnesium supplements give the most magnesium per rand?

Brand pages often quote the weight of the compound, not the elemental magnesium your body gets. We compared the four products that state elemental amounts. Prices are from Dis-Chem Living Fit and Faithful to Nature, October 2026.

| Product | Elemental Mg per unit | Pack and price | Price per 100 mg elemental Mg |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Real Thing Tri-Mag (bisglycinate, citrate, malate) | about 120 mg per capsule | 90 capsules, R285 | R2.64 |
| Flora Force Magnesium Glycinate | 100 mg per capsule (our reading of the label) | 60 capsules, R169 | R2.82 |
| Dis-Chem Gold Slow Release Magnesium (sulphate) | 68.4 mg per tablet | 60 tablets, R134.99 | R3.29 (R4.14 at the R169.99 category-page price) |
| Dis-Chem Gold Magnesium Chelate | 99 mg per tablet | 90 tablets, R299.99 | R3.37 |

New Leaf Magnesium Glycinate (R409) and PrimeSelf Magnesium Complex (R499) do not state elemental magnesium for every form, so we cannot rank them fairly.

## Do the forms matter?

Somewhat, for tolerance. Oxide and sulphate are cheap but poorly absorbed and more likely to loosen stools; citrate, lactate, chloride and amino-acid chelates are better absorbed. Claims that glycinate is proven better for sleep go beyond the evidence. What matters most is elemental dose.

Our dose checks, using the labels:

- Tri-Mag at the label dose of 2 capsules gives about 240 mg. That is just under the EFSA upper level of 250 mg for supplemental magnesium.
- Dis-Chem Gold Chelate at 1 to 2 tablets gives 99 to 198 mg.
- Dis-Chem Gold Slow Release at 2 to 3 tablets gives 137 to 205 mg, plus about 68 mg calcium per tablet.
- Tri-Mag also contains 450 IU of vitamin D3 per capsule, so two capsules add 900 IU. Count that if you also take a vitamin D supplement.

## Who actually benefits?

People with low dietary intake (few nuts, legumes, whole grains or greens), some heavy sweaters on restricted diets, and those with a diagnosed low level. The AIS puts magnesium in Group C, not advocated for athletes without a clinical reason, and evidence that extra magnesium relieves exercise cramps is weak. See [does magnesium help sleep and cramps?](/answers/does-magnesium-help-sleep-and-cramps/) and [glycinate vs citrate](/answers/magnesium-glycinate-vs-citrate-south-africa/).

## What are the safety points?

- Diarrhoea is the usual side effect at higher doses.
- Anyone with kidney disease should avoid magnesium supplements unless prescribed, because the kidneys clear it.
- Separate magnesium from tetracycline and quinolone antibiotics and from bisphosphonates by a few hours.

For the daily target see [how much magnesium to take per day](/answers/how-much-magnesium-per-day/), and for the broader ranking visit [our best magnesium page](/best/best-magnesium-south-africa/). We did not find third-party testing claims for any of these four products, and the pricing is for a single date, so check your retailer for specials.

## Products mentioned

| Product | Size | Price (source, date) | Servings | R per serving | Sweeteners |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Real Thing Tri-Mag 90 capsules | 90 capsules | R285 (Faithful to Nature, 2026-10) | 45 | R6.33 | not stated |
| Flora Force Magnesium Glycinate 60 capsules | 60 capsules | R169 (Faithful to Nature, 2026-10) | 30 | R5.63 | not stated |
| Dis-Chem Gold Slow Release Magnesium 60 coated tablets | 60 tablets | R134.99-R169.99 (Dis-Chem Living Fit, 2026-10) | 24 | R5.62 | not stated |
| Dis-Chem Gold Magnesium Chelate 90 coated tablets | 90 tablets | R300 (Dis-Chem Living Fit, 2026-10) | 60 | R5.00 | not stated |

## Sources

- [NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Magnesium, health professional fact sheet](https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/)
- [EFSA: Overview of tolerable upper intake levels (summary report, 2024)](https://www.efsa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2024-05/ul-summary-report.pdf)
- [Australian Institute of Sport Supplement Framework, Group C](https://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/nutrition/supplements/group_c)