Nepedia
Back to Discover
Independent Reader
⚛️

Magnesium citrate

physical science Maturity 5-7 Next article →

Magnesium citrate is a type of salt. It is made from magnesium and citrate. People use it in many ways.

Doctors use it as a laxative. A laxative helps you go to the bathroom. It works through osmosis. This is a way that pulls water through body parts. The salt pulls water into the intestine. This extra water helps the bowels move. This often happens in thirty minutes to three hours. Doctors may use it to empty the bowels before surgery.

It is also used as a supplement. A supplement is a pill that adds nutrients to your diet. This form helps the body use magnesium well. Some people take potassium-magnesium citrate to help prevent kidney stones. You can also find it in food. It is used to control how sour food is.

It is important to use it safely. You should drink a full glass of water with it. Taking too much can be bad. It can make your heart beat slowly. It can also make you feel sleepy. Always talk to a doctor about using it.

179 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.