Contents
Stress, a high pace of life and an improper diet are factors causing magnesium deficiency to reach epidemic proportions these days. Producers of dietary supplements carefully use this fact, constantly bombarding us with advertisements for more and more new preparations with magnesium. One form of magnesium available in such products is magnesium oxide. How is it different from other forms of this element and is it worth using?
Why do we need magnesium?
Magnesium is an element that participates in countless processes taking place in the human body. It is known to be an important factor in the proper functioning of the nervous system – magnesium deficiencies are manifested by eyelid twitching, muscle spasms, as well as drowsiness and fatigue. Magnesium is also involved in regulating the work of many other organs and systems, including the thyroid gland, kidneys and the immune system.
Unfortunately, nowadays there are many factors that may cause a magnesium deficiency in us. It is washed away by coffee, alcohol and other stimulants. Composing a diet rich in magnesium can also be difficult, as we consume many foods that are devoid of this element when using food processing methods. The situation is also not improved by the fact that agricultural products are often grown in the soil ravaged by intensive exploitation, which is why they do not contain adequate amounts of magnesium themselves. In such a situation, the only solution is supplementation with magnesium preparations.
How is magnesium oxide different from other forms?
Pure magnesium cannot be absorbed. This element must exist in a chemical compound and be broken down in the body. Therefore, in dietary supplements, we find various forms of magnesium, including:
- magnesium chloride – a magnesium atom and two chlorine atoms,
- magnesium malate – a magnesium atom and a molecule of malic acid,
- magnesium citrate – a magnesium atom and a citric acid molecule,
- magnesium chelate – magnesium combined with glycine in various proportions,
- magnesium oxide – magnesium atom and oxygen atom.
The forms of magnesium differ in many parameters. Some are organic, others inorganic, which translates into bioavailability. What’s more, the chemical compounds to which magnesium is attached also affect the supplement’s action: for example, citric acid has a mild laxative effect, so magnesium citrate will be a good form of magnesium for people suffering from constipation, but not necessarily when our bowel movements are frequent and loose.
Medonet Market offers a dietary supplement in the form of magnesium chelate, as well as preparations such as capsules with magnesium citrate.
How does magnesium oxide compare? First of all, it is one of the most common forms of magnesium in various preparations. The main factor that speaks in favor of the popularity of magnesium oxide is the price of this substance. Few people know that agriculture uses the so-called feed magnesium oxide, which is purchased in packages of up to 25 kg! This means that manufacturers of dietary supplements, when tempting us with double or quadruple doses of magnesium, actually incur a negligible cost and it has more to do with marketing than with the quality of the preparation.
Bioavailability of magnesium oxide
The bioavailability is much more important than the amount of magnesium compounds in the preparation. It is the ratio of the amount of a substance absorbed by the body to the total dose delivered, expressed as a percentage. The remaining unabsorbed dose is excreted mostly in the urine. The bioavailability of a substance mainly depends on its solubility in water and whether it is of organic or inorganic origin.
So what is the bioavailability of magnesium oxide? Unfortunately, very poorly. Research says that the bioavailability is around 4%. This means that we actually absorb about 300 mg from the preparation advertised with a dizzying dose of 12 mg of magnesium. Meanwhile, the need for magnesium in an adult human is from 300 to 400 mg per day. This means that when we buy cheap magnesium oxide supplements, we are stuffing the pockets of pharmaceutical companies, deceiving ourselves that we care about the health of our body.
Before use, read the leaflet, which contains indications, contraindications, data on side effects and dosage as well as information on the use of the medicinal product, or consult your doctor or pharmacist, as each drug used improperly is a threat to your life or health. Do you need a medical consultation or an e-prescription? Go to halodoctor.pl, where you will get online help – quickly, safely and without leaving your home.Now you can use e-consultation also free of charge under the National Health Fund.