Magnesium is an essential mineral to the body, being used to form over three hundred necessary enzymes for normal healthy function. Unfortunately, magnesium is not made naturally within the body thus needing to be obtained elsewhere. Obtaining this mineral is best when achieved through the diet however, being able to ingest the three hundred to four hundred milligrams needed daily through the diet is not always possible, and in fact most studies suggest that it nearly never happens. Even those with the most healthy of diets may need to look into a magnesium supplement of some kind.
Characteristics and Variations Explained
There are many different forms of magnesium, each being different based on the type of chemical salt that has been bonded to the magnesium. Of the different types of magnesium, there are two that are most common: magnesium citrate, and magnesium oxide. What is the difference? Which mineral variation should consumers choose? The choice is solely that of the patient/consumer, though speaking to a physician will ultimately be the only sure fire way that an individual will know whether they should be taking it and which one is right for them. That being said, there are some stark differences between the two types of magnesium.
Magnesium when bonded with the in-organic salt compound commonly titled as oxide has been shown to be the least absorbent form of magnesium. In fact when an individual takes a five hundred milligram tablet of magnesium oxide, only roughly twelve milligrams are absorbed into the body. Studies have also been done that claim magnesium oxide while have a low absorption rate has the highest rate of health benefits than magnesium citrate. It is believed that this is due to the effects on the bowels. Our body’s natural cleansing system runs through the intestinal tract causing bowel movements, unfortunately toxicities often still remain causing the body to react slowly within the immune system as well as giving a general feeling of being weighed down. When magnesium oxide is taken as a supplement, ninety six percent of the chemical compound is not absorbed often causing diarrhea. While diarrhea may be an unpleasant side effect, many of those left-over toxicities will then be removed. Diarrhea can also cause dehydration which can be very dangerous.
Magnesium citrate, unlike its brother is an organic salt that has a rather high absorption rate. Some studies have shown that the body may actually absorb anywhere from fifty to ninety percent of the magnesium within a five hundred milligram pill. Magnesium citrate can be used to help fight kidney disease. It is thought that magnesium citrate is the better choice of the two due to the difference in absorption, however, the cleansing of the intestinal tract that magnesium oxide can offer is not as prevalent in magnesium citrate. This variation is used to help produce bowel movements, just not to the same degree as its counterpart magnesium oxide.