Magnesium I threonate is a form of the essential mineral magnesium. The body requires magnesium for various functions, including protein synthesis, glucose control, and nerve function.
Evidence suggests an individual may benefit from a reduced risk of dementia and other age-related diseases if they have a high intake or circulating levels of magnesium. This is potentially due to the importance of magnesium to the brain and nerves. This article looks at magnesium l-threonate, its benefits, and its possible side effects. It also explores the importance of magnesium in the body and the symptoms an individual may experience with magnesium deficiency.

What is magnesium l-threonate?
Magnesium I threonate, or magnesium L-threonateTrusted Source, is a synthesized form of magnesium. Chemically, it is a salt that forms when a manufacturer combines magnesium with threonic acid. This acid is a product of the metabolic breakdown of vitamin C.
The body can easily absorb magnesium l-threonate. Some animal studiesTrusted Source have found that magnesium l-threonate is more effective at increasing magnesium ions in the brain and improving cognitive function than magnesium sulfate. Therefore, doctors may recommend magnesium L-threonate to normalize an individual’s magnesium levels and for potential benefits to the brain.

Benefits
As magnesium L-threonate can readily elevate magnesium levels in the brain, it has the potential to improve cognitive function. However, research is still in the early stages and mainly involves animal models. For example, a 2020 studyTrusted Source on zebrafish found that magnesium l-threonate helps protect against brain cell death and preserve cognitive function.

Magnesium deficiency
In healthy individuals with a regular dietary intake, magnesium deficiency is uncommonTrusted Source. This is because the kidneys limit how much magnesium they excrete from the body if there is not enough.
However, people may develop a magnesium deficiency if they eat a diet low in magnesium, have alcohol use disorder, take certain medications, or have certain other health conditions.Similarly, a 2019 studyTrusted Source using a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease found that magnesium l-threonate successfully elevated magnesium in cerebrospinal fluid and protected against motor deficits and dopamine neuron loss. Magnesium l-threonate could have benefitsTrusted Source for memory and nerve pain. In severe cases, the individual may also develop low serum calcium or potassium levels because of the disruption to how their body manages mineral homeostasis or balance.