Reviewed by Noel Palmer, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer of Supergalactic Brands · November 2026
A shopper stands in front of eight kinds of magnesium and asks which one is the good one. Oxide, citrate, glycinate, threonate: the labels all promise something, and the numbers on the front rarely match the numbers on the back. Magnesium is one of the most popular supplements on the shelf and the one with the most forms to choose from. Knowing what each form is, and how to read the label with the shopper, is what earns their trust.
Magnesium 101 is a free magnesium course for supplement store staff. It covers what magnesium does in the body, how much adults need, why the form, the dose and the meal change how much you absorb, how to read the magnesium on a Supplement Facts panel, the claims and myths you will hear, and a thirty-second way to answer questions within the rules. It takes about 30 minutes, self-paced, across seven short narrated lessons, and every lesson lists its sources.
What you'll learn
Seven lessons that go from the science to the conversation in the aisle.
Welcome (Lesson 1). Why the magnesium shelf gets so many questions, and where your job as store staff starts and stops.
What Magnesium Does (Lesson 2). What magnesium does in the body, how much adults need, and where most people fall short.
How Much You Absorb (Lesson 3). The three things that change how much magnesium gets in: the form, the dose and the meal.
Forms on the Shelf (Lesson 4). Oxide, citrate, glycinate and the rest compared, and how to find the elemental magnesium on a label.
Claims and Myths (Lesson 5). Sleep, cramps, blood pressure and magnesium on the skin: one clear fact and its source for each.
The Conversation on the Floor (Lesson 6). A thirty-second answer that stays within structure and function claims, and the health questions that go to a pharmacist or doctor.
Put It All Together (Lesson 7). One shopper from start to finish in a practice conversation where your choices shape the visit.
How the course works
Each lesson is a short narrated walkthrough with photos, flip cards and quick checks. You read a sample magnesium label by tapping each part of it, play a matching game that pairs each form with what it is known for, sort what is and isn't your job on the floor, answer shopper moments as they happen, and build a thirty-second answer in the right order. The last lesson is a practice conversation with a shopper that scores each choice and shows what you did well and what to work on.
It closes with a 15-question final quiz. Twelve correct passes. It works on a phone, tablet, or desktop.
Who this is for
Staff and managers at supplement shops, nutrition and health food stores, grocery and pharmacy wellness aisles, and gyms that sell supplements. Anyone who gets asked which magnesium to buy and wants to answer with facts.
What you walk away with
You'll know what magnesium does and how much adults need, how the common forms differ, how to read the elemental magnesium on a label, how to answer the claims and myths shoppers bring in, what you can and can't say about a supplement, and when to send a shopper to a pharmacist or doctor.
Free to enroll. Self-paced. Certificate on completion.
Who built this course
Magnesium 101 was created by the Learn Brands education team under the direction of Mathew Benoit, COO and Creative Director of Learn Brands. Learn Brands trains store teams at more than 3,500 retailers and works with more than 350 brands. It is the second course in the Learn Brands Supplement and Functional series, after Creatine: What Works and Why.
Science reviewed by Noel Palmer, Ph.D.
Noel Palmer, Ph.D., Founding Partner and Chief Science Officer of Supergalactic Brands, reviewed this course for scientific accuracy in November 2026. He is a laboratory chemist with more than 20 years in plant-based product testing and formulation, and has served as chief scientist at Mary's Medicinals and Evolab. Read Noel's full profile.
How we checked the facts
Claims were checked against published research, including the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements magnesium fact sheet, studies comparing how well magnesium forms are absorbed, and Cochrane's review of magnesium for muscle cramps. What staff can say was checked against FDA rules for supplement claims and labels. Every lesson lists its sources, and every photo was checked by eye to make sure it shows what the lesson says.
Training, not medical advice
This course is general education for store staff. It is not medical or nutrition advice, and it teaches staff to send health questions to a pharmacist or doctor. Research changes, so follow your store's procedures and the product's label.
Last reviewed November 2026.
Magnesium course FAQ
Is this course free?
Yes. Magnesium 101 is part of the free Core Education Suite, free to take and free to assign to your team.
Do I need a science background?
No. The course explains the science in plain words and focuses on what to say when a shopper asks.
Does it tell me which magnesium to recommend?
It teaches you to ask what the shopper wants it for, share one clear fact about the forms, read the Supplement Facts panel together, and hand off to a pharmacist or doctor when a health condition or medicine comes up.
How long does it take?
About 30 minutes. You can stop and pick up where you left off.
Can I enroll my whole team?
Yes. Create a free company account, assign the course, and track who has started and finished from the Learn Brands dashboard.
Related courses
Creatine: What Works and Why starts the Supplement and Functional series. Bioavailability 101 explains how much of any supplement the body takes in. Browse the free Core Education Suite.
