Magnesium Glycinate (thorne Magnesium Bisglycinate) vs Magnesium L Threonate (jarrow Mag Mind / Magtein)

Magnesium Glycinate (Thorne Magnesium Bisglycinate) wins — Magnesium glycinate wins for most supplementers — better sleep, muscle relaxation, and anxiety evidence at less than hal…

Scores: Magnesium Glycinate (thorne Magnesium Bisglycinate) 9/10 · Magnesium L Threonate (jarrow Mag Mind / Magtein) 8/10

Magnesium glycinate wins for most supplementers — better sleep, muscle relaxation, and anxiety evidence at less than half the cost per day covers the primary reasons adults take magnesium. Threonate earns its premium specifically for cognitive enhancement goals where the CNS-targeting mechanism and human cognitive performance data are the priority. Both can be taken simultaneously at lower dose...

Magnesium Glycinate (thorne Magnesium Bisglycinate) lists at $26 while Magnesium L Threonate (jarrow Mag Mind / Magtein) lists at $39 — Magnesium Glycinate (thorne Magnesium Bisglycinate) undercuts Magnesium L Threonate (jarrow Mag Mind / Magtein) by $13 (50%).

Spec-by-spec comparison

	Magnesium Glycinate (thorne Magnesium Bisglycinate)	Magnesium L Threonate (jarrow Mag Mind / Magtein)
form	Magnesium bisglycinate (magnesium bound to glycine amino acid)	Magnesium L-threonate — patented Magtein form developed at MIT
elemental_mg	135mg elemental magnesium per 2 capsules	144mg elemental magnesium per 3 capsules
absorption	~40% bioavailability (compared to ~4% for magnesium oxide)	—
tolerance	Very well tolerated — minimal laxative effect even at higher doses	—
use_case	Muscle relaxation, sleep quality, anxiety, general magnesium repletion	Cognitive function, synaptic plasticity, memory, focus
serving	2 capsules = 135mg (typical dose 200-400mg/day)	3 capsules per day

Magnesium Glycinate (thorne Magnesium Bisglycinate)

What works

Glycine amino acid in the chelate has independent sleep-promoting effects — the combination improves sleep onset independently of magnesium status correction
Minimal GI disruption even at therapeutic doses (300-400mg) — magnesium oxide causes diarrhea at comparable doses
Well-documented for muscle cramps, sleep quality, and anxiety at 200-400mg/day doses with consistent research support

What doesn't

No specific brain-crossing capability — glycinate form does not preferentially cross the blood-brain barrier
For cognitive performance enhancement specifically, threonate's CNS targeting is more mechanistically appropriate

Magnesium L Threonate (jarrow Mag Mind / Magtein)

What works

Magtein is the only magnesium form with human studies showing improved cognitive performance — a 2023 randomized trial showed 6-week improvement in executive function scores
Blood-brain barrier penetration enables CNS magnesium repletion that other forms don't achieve as efficiently
Synaptic density research from MIT suggests mechanism of action for memory and focus beyond general mineral correction

What doesn't

$39 vs $26 for magnesium glycinate — more than 2x the per-dose cost
Human evidence base is smaller than glycinate — 2 major trials vs decades of research on glycinate/citrate forms
For general sleep, muscle relaxation, and anxiety — glycinate has equivalent or superior evidence and costs less

Bottom line

Our pick: Magnesium Glycinate (thorne Magnesium Bisglycinate).

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