We found no clinical trials showing that any swallowed supplement reduces snoring. The NHS recommends practical steps:
- lose weight if you're overweight
- sleep on your side
- don't smoke
- cut down on alcohol
- avoid sleeping pills, which can sometimes cause snoring
If those don't help, a doctor may suggest devices such as a mouth guard that brings the jaw forward, a chin strap, or nasal dilators.
Loud snoring can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnoea, where breathing stops and starts during sleep. The NHS advises seeing a GP if:
- you gasp, snort or choke in your sleep
- someone notices your breathing stop
- you always feel very tired during the day
Sleep apnoea can be serious if not treated. Many people need a CPAP machine, which the NHS provides free when needed. No supplement treats sleep apnoea.
- Melatonin: it may help with jet lag, but NCCIH says guidelines recommend against it for long-term insomnia and its long-term safety is unknown. There is no evidence it reduces snoring.
- Magnesium: there is very little research even for sleep, and none for snoring. NCCIH gives 350 mg a day as the upper limit from supplements. See our magnesium glycinate page.
- Vitamin C: we found no snoring trials. The NHS says more than 1,000 mg a day can upset your stomach. See our vitamin C page.
- Throat and nasal sprays: decongestant sprays can help when a blocked nose is the cause (NHS). We found no trials of herbal throat sprays.
- Claims to cure snoring or sleep apnoea.
- Sedating herbal blends. Anything that relaxes you more at night may make snoring worse, as sleeping pills can.
- Proprietary "anti-snore" blends that hide ingredients.
- Honest claims.
- Ingredient safety within upper limits.
- Third-party testing.
- Clear labeling that loud snoring with pauses in breathing or daytime sleepiness needs a medical check for sleep apnoea.
- We score down any product that implies it replaces CPAP or a dental device.
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