What is Magnesium Bisglycinate?

Magnesium is one of the most abundant minerals in our bodies and is involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions.

Although magnesium can be found in certain foods, its importance has made it one of the most consumed minerals in France, particularly in the form of food supplements.

In supplements, magnesium comes in the form of molecules that combine it with a transporter to form a magnesium salt.

There are a multitude of different associations: Magnesium Bisglycinate , Oxide, Citrate, Carbonate, Lactate, etc. Each magnesium salt has different properties depending on its content, its actual absorption and its intestinal tolerance.

In this article, we review the nutritional aspects of Magnesium and the different properties of magnesium salts found in supplements.

The benefits of Magnesium

Magnesium is the 4th most abundant mineral in our body.

It is widely recognized for its role in nerve regulation because it is essential in the synthesis of GABA (gamma amino butyric acid), a key neurotransmitter that promotes the transmission of calming signals between neurons.

This fundamental function explains the calming effects associated with magnesium supplementation, as well as the manifestations of nervousness and sleep disturbances common in individuals with magnesium deficiency.

Beyond this easily perceptible utility, magnesium is also involved in:

• The growth and strength of the skeleton,
• Energy production (the “Krebs cycle”)
• Muscle tone,
• Regulation of blood pressure and cardiovascular health,
• The immune system.

Magnesium deficiency and requirements in the population

70% of the French population is deficient in magnesium.

The SU.VI.Max study showed that the average intake of the French population is about one-third below the desirable level. Other studies in Western countries have convergent results.

The Recommended Dietary Intake (RDI) is 6 mg/kg/day, which gives a range of needs from approximately 80 mg for young children to 300/400 mg for adults. Pregnant and breastfeeding women can even increase these intakes slightly.

Magnesium deficiency is partly due to the fact that it is not synthesized by the body. Therefore, it must be provided daily through food, especially since it is easily eliminated in urine.

To ensure adequate intake, you can take a dietary supplement or include food sources rich in magnesium. These sources include seeds (especially cocoa), dried fruits, oilseeds, green vegetables, and seafood. Some mineral waters also contain significant magnesium levels.

The mechanism of intestinal absorption of magnesium

To be absorbed, that is, to reach the bloodstream, magnesium must cross the intestinal barrier. Approximately 20 to 50% of the ingested magnesium is absorbed, the rest is eliminated in the stool.

Magnesium is absorbed through the intestinal mucosa by two mechanisms:

• Passive absorption, the most important, which represents approximately 80% of absorbed magnesium, mainly in the small intestine.
• Active absorption, which is a saturable process that loses efficiency as the dose increases. This mechanism is very useful when intake is low because it increases the percentage absorbed. Vitamin D, Vitamin B6 and Omega 3, 6, 9, and certain amino acids slightly improve the efficiency of this absorption.

The absorbed magnesium then circulates in the body in different forms, either free or associated with cellular transporters. The mechanisms that regulate these balances remain poorly understood.

Intestinal absorption of magnesium depends primarily on the nature of the magnesium salt and the amount taken per dose. In all cases, ingested cellular magnesium is also easily eliminated in the urine (more than 100 mg/day), regardless of the form of magnesium used. This largely explains the need for high daily intakes to compensate for this regular urinary loss.

The different forms of Magnesium: Bisglycinate, Marine, etc.?

Non-dietary magnesium is always combined with another molecule to form a magnesium salt. There are a multitude of salts including Magnesium Bisglycinate , Carbonate, Citrate, Marin etc.

To analyze the relevance of one form over another, there are two objective elements to consider: magnesium content and intestinal absorption.

Source: meta analysis: Ranade VV, Somberg JC. Bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of magnesium after administration of magnesium salts to humans. Am J Ther. 2001 Sep-Oct;8(5):345-57. PMID: 11550076.

The study therefore shows that, in reality, all forms of magnesium salts provide a significant amount of absorbed magnesium. This suggests that, regardless of the magnesium salt chosen, it will contribute to the body's magnesium intake, even if there is a tolerance of ± 20% on absorption values.

It should also be noted that regardless of the form chosen, it is important to favor moderate doses of magnesium with each intake. Unit intakes of 50 to 100 mg are the most effective to ensure better assimilation,

Organic and inorganic magnesium salts

The two main categories of magnesium salts are organic or inorganic forms.

Organic salts have a bond between magnesium and carbon-containing molecules. The most commonly used are citrate, lactate, and more recently, magnesium bisglycinate.

Organic salts have on average better absorption and often better intestinal tolerance, but fairly low magnesium contents (5 to 20%).

But some organic magnesium salts are associated with molecules that are less useful to the body, such as lactates, which are precursors of lactic acid, the molecule responsible for anaerobic muscle fatigue. This is also the case for aspartate, which is a neurostimulant and possibly anxiety-inducing, which is antagonistic to the calming properties of magnesium.

Inorganic magnesium salts such as chloride, sulfate and oxide, the famous marine magnesium, have a higher magnesium content (30 to 60%) but their absorption is lower. Their intestinal tolerance is lower when absorbed in large unit quantities (more than 100 mg of magnesium per dose).

An organic, chelated magnesium salt: Bisglycinate

Magnesium Bisglycinate is a special organic magnesium salt with two additional benefits: chelation and association with Glycine.

Bisglycinate is a bond between magnesium and two molecules of Glycine, an amino acid found in many collagens. This fusion will form an organic “amino-chelated” complex.

Chelation is a chemical mechanism of double binding of molecules together. Chelated molecules are more stable and well absorbed by the intestinal barrier. This is the case with Magnesium Bisglycinate.

Magnesium Bisglycinate is a very good compromise between the 3 main criteria which define the quality of a magnesium salt:

• Concentration
• Absorption
• Intestinal tolerance.

It also has the advantage of providing the body with Glycine, the main amino acid for collagen synthesis!

Magnesium Bisglycinate in our food supplements

For our new Magnesium formula , we have selected Magnesium Bisglycinate, combined with zinc and vitamin B6 for maximum effect on nerve regulation.

In addition to the ideal characteristics of this form of magnesium, Bisglycinate is also made up of two molecules of Glycine, the main and often limiting amino acid in collagen synthesis.

One capsule of our Magnesium formula provides 100mg of Magnesium but also 200mg of Glycine.