Maximum Dose of Magnesium Glycinate for a Six-Year-Old
For a 6-year-old child, the maximum daily dose of elemental magnesium (including magnesium glycinate) should not exceed 110-130 mg per day to minimize gastrointestinal side effects. 1
Recommended Dosing Framework
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a standard supplementation dose of approximately 5-6 mg/kg/day of elemental magnesium for children. 2, 1 For an average-weight 6-year-old (approximately 20-22 kg), this translates to:
- Starting dose: 100-130 mg elemental magnesium daily 2, 1
- Maximum safe dose: 110-130 mg elemental magnesium daily 1
Critical Formulation Consideration
Magnesium glycinate (bisglycinate) is preferred over other forms due to superior gastrointestinal tolerance. 2, 3 When calculating dosage, you must account for elemental magnesium content only—magnesium glycinate contains approximately 14-18% elemental magnesium by weight, so a 700-800 mg dose of magnesium glycinate provides roughly 100-130 mg of elemental magnesium. 2
Administration Guidelines
- Timing: Administer 1-2 hours before bedtime if using for sleep support 2
- Dose-limiting factor: Gastrointestinal effects (diarrhea, abdominal cramping) are the primary concern at higher doses 1, 3
Essential Safety Monitoring
Before initiating magnesium supplementation:
- Assess renal function, as magnesium is primarily renally excreted and contraindicated in severe renal impairment 1, 3
- Monitor for hypermagnesemia signs: muscle weakness, hypotension, or bradycardia 3
- Watch for gastrointestinal side effects as the most common adverse effects 3
Absolute Contraindications
Do not use magnesium glycinate in children with: 1, 3
- Severe renal impairment
- Complete heart block or severe cardiac conduction abnormalities
- Active gastrointestinal obstruction
Clinical Context
While emergency/acute care settings may use much higher IV magnesium doses (25-50 mg/kg for conditions like torsades de pointes or status asthmaticus), 4 these are distinct from chronic oral supplementation dosing. The 110-130 mg daily maximum applies specifically to routine oral supplementation in otherwise healthy children. 1
For comparison, research in 7-12 year-old children with ADHD used approximately 200 mg/day of elemental magnesium, 5 but this higher dose should only be considered under close medical supervision given the established gastrointestinal dose-limiting threshold of 110-130 mg for younger children. 1