Magnesium is gaining popularity, particularly if you struggle to fall asleep at night. But before you start popping this supplement before bed, we asked our chief medical officer, Sohaib Imtiaz, MD, if there are any risks to taking magnesium.

Q: If I eat a fairly balanced diet and I'm not deficient in magnesium, is it still safe to take a magnesium supplement to help with my sleep?

Imtiaz: Taking magnesium can be harmful if you're not deficient. The most common side effect is diarrhea, especially from poorly absorbed magnesium , such as magnesium oxide .

Some studies suggest that doses above 350 milligrams a day, which is the current tolerable limit, is fine for most people, but in a few cases, it can cause significant side effects .

Excess magnesium can cause a condition called

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