Comparison
Magnesium L-Threonate vs TUDCA
Side-by-side of Magnesium L-Threonate and TUDCA. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
Magnesium L-Threonate
Magnesium l-threonate (Magtein) crosses the blood-brain barrier. Typical dose 1,500-2,000 mg. Sleep and cognitive trial data, side effects.
TUDCA
TUDCA is the taurine-conjugated form of ursodeoxycholic acid, a bile-acid molecule with replicated effects on liver function, ER stress, and bile flow.
Effects at a glance
Magnesium L-Threonate
- •Distinct magnesium salt designed for blood-brain barrier penetration; not a higher-quality systemic magnesium
- •Liu 2010 rodent study: elevated CSF magnesium ~15% and increased hippocampal synaptic density
- •Trial portfolio in humans is small and mostly Magtein-funded; cognitive effects are modest where reported
- •Typical dose 1500 to 2000 mg/day delivers only ~108 to 144 mg of elemental magnesium
- •GI tolerability comparable to other magnesium forms; loose stools in a minority at 2000 mg/day
- •Distinct from magnesium glycinate, which is the conventional sleep/anxiety/repletion form
TUDCA
- •Bile-acid molecule (taurine-conjugated UDCA) with chemical chaperone activity at the endoplasmic reticulum
- •Established pharmaceutical use for cholestasis and primary biliary cholangitis at 500-750 mg/day
- •Reduces ER stress and stabilizes misfolded proteins; the mechanistic basis for emerging ALS / retinal applications
- •Modest improvements in NAFLD markers and insulin sensitivity at 500-1,750 mg/day in small trials
- •Mitochondrial protection signal in animal models drives the longevity-supplement positioning
- •Generally well-tolerated; mild GI effects are the main dose-dependent issue
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Magnesium L-Threonate | TUDCA |
|---|---|---|
| Category | supplement | supplement |
| Also known as | Mg-T, MgT, Magtein, magnesium threonate | tauroursodeoxycholic acid, taurine-conjugated UDCA |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 4 | 4 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 2000 | 500 |
| Dosing frequency | 1 to 3 times daily | daily, divided into 2 doses with food |
| Routes | oral | oral |
| Onset (hr) | 1 | 1 |
| Peak (hr) | 2 | 2 |
| Molecular weight | 294.5 | 499.7 |
| Molecular formula | C8H14MgO10 | C26H45NO6S |
| Mechanism | Proposed to deliver magnesium across the blood-brain barrier more effectively than other oral salts via threonate-related transporters, raising CNS magnesium and modulating NMDA receptor function and synaptic plasticity. | Bile-acid signaling via FXR/TGR5 receptors; chemical chaperone reducing ER stress and unfolded protein response; mitochondrial protection through reduced outer-membrane permeabilization. |
| Legal status | OTC dietary supplement | OTC dietary supplement (US); pharmaceutical in Italy and several Asian countries |
| WADA status | allowed | allowed |
| DEA / Rx | OTC supplement (not scheduled) | OTC supplement |
| Pregnancy | Standard magnesium safety; Mg-T-specific data limited | Insufficient data for supplement use; UDCA used in cholestasis of pregnancy |
| CAS | 778571-57-6 | 14605-22-2 |
| PubChem CID | 10691810 | 9848818 |
| Wikidata | Q27151568 | Q418751 |
Safety profile
Magnesium L-Threonate
Common side effects
- loose stools
- mild GI upset
- headache (rare)
- fatigue (rare)
Contraindications
- severe renal impairment (eGFR below 30)
- hypermagnesemia
- myasthenia gravis (high doses)
- concurrent IV magnesium therapy
Interactions
- tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones: magnesium chelation reduces antibiotic absorption; separate by 2 to 4 hours(moderate)
- bisphosphonates: reduced absorption; separate by 2 hours minimum(moderate)
- muscle relaxants and aminoglycosides: potentiated neuromuscular blockade at high doses(moderate)
- antihypertensives: additive blood pressure reduction at high doses(minor)
TUDCA
Common side effects
- mild GI upset
- diarrhea (dose-dependent)
- constipation (rare)
- nausea
Contraindications
- complete biliary obstruction
- pregnancy / lactation (insufficient supplement-dose data)
- active GI disease without medical supervision
Interactions
- cyclosporine, oral contraceptives, fat-soluble vitamins: modest absorption changes via altered bile-acid pool(minor)
- phenylbutyrate: synergistic for ALS use (Relyvrio combination); consult clinician(moderate)
Which Should You Take?
TUDCA comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 3 catalogued goals, OTC dietary supplement, oral dosing, with a Tier-A outcome catalogued. Magnesium L-Threonate is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is focus or working memory, pick Magnesium L-Threonate.
- → If your priority is sleep onset or sleep quality, pick Magnesium L-Threonate.
- → If your priority is liver function, pick TUDCA.
- → If your priority is healthspan extension, pick TUDCA.
Default choice: TUDCA. Lower friction to source, a Tier-A evidence outcome catalogued, and broader goal coverage. Reach for Magnesium L-Threonate only if your priority sits squarely in the goals it owns above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between Magnesium L-Threonate and TUDCA?
Magnesium L-Threonate and TUDCA differ in category (supplement vs supplement), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, Magnesium L-Threonate or TUDCA?
Magnesium L-Threonate half-life is 4 hours; TUDCA half-life is 4 hours.
Can you stack Magnesium L-Threonate with TUDCA?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
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