Fish oil and magnesium

Yes — fish oil and magnesium are commonly taken together, and there's no documented interaction between them. Fish oil supplies EPA and DHA, two omega-3 fatty acids; magnesium is an essential mineral with its own separate role in the body. Taking them together, apart, or at different times of day hasn't been shown to change what either one does.

Why they're often paired, and what each actually is

Fish oil and magnesium show up together in a lot of daily supplement routines simply because both are common, general-purpose supplements — not because a trial has tested the combination against either one alone. Fish oil is a source of two long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA; our softgel supplies 180 mg of EPA and 120 mg of DHA from 1,000 mg of fish oil concentrate. Magnesium is a mineral involved in normal muscle and nervous system function and energy metabolism — a completely different nutrient category from an oil-based fatty acid supplement. There's nothing chemically or physiologically that links the two beyond both being sold as daily supplements.

Does fish oil contain magnesium?

No. Fish oil concentrate is a source of fat-soluble omega-3s, not minerals. Our panel lists fish oil concentrate, EPA, DHA and vitamin E — no magnesium, and no other minerals. If you want magnesium, it has to come from a separate source: food, or a magnesium-specific supplement.

What actually matters if you're taking both

• Timing. Neither has an established requirement to be taken with or apart from the other. Fish oil is commonly taken with meals, which can reduce the fishy aftertaste some people notice; magnesium doesn't have a comparable timing requirement.
• Dose independence. The amount of magnesium you take doesn't change how much EPA or DHA you absorb from fish oil, or the reverse. Read each label on its own terms.
• Checking for overlap. If you're taking a multivitamin or a combination product, check whether it already includes magnesium or omega-3s before adding a separate bottle of either.

Questions people ask

Can you take fish oil and magnesium together?

Yes. There's no documented interaction between fish oil and magnesium at typical supplement doses, and no evidence that taking them together changes what either one does.

Can I take fish oil with magnesium glycinate specifically?

Yes — the form of magnesium (glycinate, citrate, oxide and so on) doesn't change this answer. No interaction between any common magnesium form and fish oil has been documented.

Does fish oil have magnesium in it?

No. Fish oil concentrate is fat and omega-3 fatty acids; it doesn't contain magnesium or other minerals unless a brand specifically adds them, which ours does not.

Should I take fish oil and magnesium at the same time or separately?

Either works — there's no research showing a benefit to combining or separating them. Following each product's own directions is the only timing guidance that's actually been established for either one.

Our product

Electric Tiger Omega-3 is fish oil concentrate only: 1,000 mg per softgel, providing 180 mg of EPA and 120 mg of DHA, one softgel twice daily. No added magnesium or other minerals. Full panel here.

Sources

• Flock MR, et al. Determinants of erythrocyte omega-3 fatty acid content in response to fish oil supplementation. PMID 24252845.
• Electric Tiger Omega-3 Supplement Facts: product page.

Related reading: what is fish oil, how much fish oil should you take a day, and how much magnesium glycinate should you take a day.