Dr Traj Nibber, CEO and Director of Research at AOR has a wealth of experience and knowledge in the field of nutritional science and supplementation. We have asked him for his expert opinion on a number of nutrients, to feature in our blog. We hope you enjoy these insights and overviews of some key nutrients.
In this blog he looks at the various forms of magnesium.
Magnesium is an important mineral upon which hundreds of chemical reactions take place in the body. The health benefits of magnesium are wide and varied. For example, magnesium helps with relaxation of the muscles generally which further impacts conditions like fibromyalgia, to muscle cramping, heart contractions to relaxation of blood vessels which helps control blood pressure. Magnesium’s relaxation effect in the upper respiratory tract helps in conditions like asthma, bronchitis, and other upper respiratory tract infections. In this way magnesium has opposite functions to calcium another important mineral in the body. A fine balance is needed to keep each other in check.
Magnesium is an important mineral upon which hundreds of chemical reactions take place in the body.
Magnesium also helps with strengthening our immune function as well as helping various immune cells that are at the scene of infection to fight off toxins and infectious pathogens- germs, viruses and fungi.
Magnesium also plays a vital role in energy generation in the mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell. For this magnesium needs the aid and support of other minerals and vitamins to help achieve optimal performance.
Not all magnesium forms on the shelves are the same. Magnesium exists in many different salt forms that can be used in formulations. However, for magnesium to do any good it needs to be absorbed and like many other minerals its solubility, and then absorption into the blood stream where it is needed, is generally not good. So ideal forms of magnesium need to be used. For example, magnesium oxide a cheaper form is widely used, but is barely absorbed. Other forms of magnesium like magnesium gluconate are only slightly better absorbed. Other better absorbed forms of magnesium like citrate, taurate, citrate-malate, malate, glycinate, orotate or aspartate all have their own characteristics and benefits. For example, magnesium malate is often recommended for fibromyalgia, while taurate or orotate have been shown to have specific benefits for the heart. While aspirate may be best for cognitive function.
There are many different forms that can be used when making a supplement, some better than others. It is important to use one that considers which forms are the most relevant and most absorbable.
Besides using the correct salt form of magnesium and addressing the right function, one most also consider delivering the right dose as per clinical studies. It is no good just sprinkling some nominal amount of magnesium, so it looks good on the label but is an insufficient amount to provide any health benefit!
Advanced magnesium Synergy is an advanced magnesium supplement in a powder form which provides the correct dose of glycinate, malate and aspartate forms of magnesium plus the many co-factors like taurine, glycine, and a host of minerals including selenium, molybdenum
and copper, and vitamins like the active form of B6 which assist the function of magnesium for optimal health benefits.
