Organic and Inorganic Magnesium

Definition

Magnesium is present in medicinal products and dietary supplements in the form of salts with a counterion:

  • Mg2+ + Negatively charged counterion.

In organic magnesium salts, the counterion is organic, that is, it contains carbon and hydrogen atoms: organic magnesium salts (selection):

  • Magnesium aspartate
  • Magnesium citrate
  • Magnesium gluconate
  • Magnesium glutamate
  • Magnesium glycerophosphate
  • Magnesium orotate
  • Magnesium epidolate

Inorganic magnesium salts (selection):

  • Magnesium carbonate
  • Magnesium chloride
  • Magnesium hydroxide
  • Magnesium oxide

Caution: the carbonates are counted as inorganic compounds, although they contain carbon atoms. Magnesium carbonate is therefore inorganic.

Bioavailability of magnesium salts – absorption in the body.

The absorption of magnesium from the digestive tract into the bloodstream is a prerequisite for magnesium to exert systemic effects and compensate for deficiency. Active ingredient salts differ in terms of absorption and bioavailability. Is it true that organic magnesium is better absorbed? According to the literature (see below), this may be true. The organic salts are well absorbed. In contrast, the inorganic salts magnesium carbonate, magnesium sulfate and magnesium oxide have poorer bioavailability. However, there are exceptions – magnesium chloride, for example, has good availability. So the generalization that all inorganic magnesium salts are poorly absorbed is not true. Moreover, absorption is not zero – a therapeutic effect can still occur. The different solubility of the salts can be suspected as the cause. This is because it is precisely the less readily available inorganic salts that have poor solubility. However, the issue is controversial. For example, Sighart Golf (2009) concludes that the salt form does not matter at all – all salts are equally suitable for treatment. He criticizes several of the studies conducted. See http://www.pharmazeutische-zeitung.de/index.php?id=29065 The courts have also dealt with magnesium salts. Finally, commercial aspects also play a role. In 2011, the Hamburg Regional Court concluded that the superiority of organic magnesium citrate over inorganic magnesium oxide was not sufficiently proven. It was therefore not permissible to advertise it.