Magnesium is a popular supplement. Although you get magnesium from food, many people prefer to take a supplement to boost any gaps in their nutrition.
If you are considering a magnesium supplement, you will have noticed that there are several types of this mineral, which makes it difficult to know which one to choose.
In this blog, we explain why we need magnesium and the difference between Magnesium Citrate and Magnesium Bisglycinate. With this information, you should be able to choose the one that suits you best.
Magnesium is a mineral. It has several important health benefits, and it’s found in foods like leafy green vegetables, nuts and seeds and wholemeal bread.
Magnesium helps the nervous and muscular systems. It also plays a part in maintaining healthy bones and teeth, energy production and the control of glucose levels and blood pressure.
Magnesium citrate is a common form of magnesium. It is often used by people who suffer from constipation because magnesium citrate has a laxative effect. But you need to be careful, because too much of this mineral can cause diarrhoea. It is also used to improve bone health, digestion and overall health.
When you are looking at the labels on a bottle of a magnesium supplement, you might see magnesium bisglycinate or magnesium glycinate. They are both the same. This type of magnesium is often used by people who want help relieving stress, or sleep support or muscle relaxation.
Some supplements don’t break down properly in the body, and so the nutrient value is lost, but both magnesium citrate and magnesium bisglycinate are highly absorbent, meaning more of the magnesium is passed into the body and not eliminated in your urine.
However, if you have a sensitive digestive system, then magnesium bisglycinate/glycinate is considered to be gentler on the stomach than magnesium citrate.
There aren’t any concrete symptoms of a magnesium deficiency, but in general, you might experience:
The medical term for low magnesium is hypomagnesemia. You might be low in magnesium because you don’t get enough from your food, your body doesn’t absorb magnesium properly, or too much magnesium is lost in your urine.
If you are very low in magnesium, you may need treatment from your doctor or have a magnesium transfusion in hospital.
Men between the ages of 19 and 64 need 300mg a day. Women between the ages of 19 and 64 need a little less, at 270mg a day.
If you want to take a supplement, we now stock magnesium supplements from Lamberts Healthcare. They are the UK’s leading supplier of dietary supplements, which have been made in the UK for over 40 years.
If you’re not sure what type of magnesium you need, talk to one of our staff. We’re always happy to help with information and advice.
