Frequently Asked Questions

What do the 200, 140 & 80 numbers on your labels mean?

Those numbers refer to the amount of elemental magnesium in each capsule. For example, our Magnesium Bis-Glycinate 200 Gentle contains 200mg of elemental magnesium per capsule.

What do you mean by “pure”?

A pure product means that there are no flavours, fillers or impurities.

Do you add anything else to your magnesium bis-glycinate capsules?

Every capsule is packed with magnesium material. Even if we wanted to, there wouldn’t be enough room! The only thing we add is a minute amount of vegetable-grade magnesium stearate to help produce a consistent, uniformly-filled capsule. Nothing else!

What’s the difference between magnesium bis-glycinate and magnesium glycinate?

Conventionally, they mean the same thing. The terms are used interchangeably.

Blended, buffered, chelated – what do these mean?

There are three forms of magnesium bis-glycinate: blends, buffered chelates and chelates. Magnesium bis-glycinate chelates (also known as ‘fully reacted’ or ‘fully chelated’ forms) bind magnesium ions to glycine molecules directly through a patented manufacturing process. Magnesium bis-glycinate blends deliver more elemental magnesium through a process of dry-blending magnesium oxide, chelates and glycine. Buffered chelates combine chelates with added magnesium oxide into a homogenized form.

What’s the difference between?

All three forms are excellent options, providing enhanced absorption and gastrointestinal gentleness compared to other forms of magnesium. But there are a few differences.

The primary difference is how gentle they are (which is why ours are labelled Gentle, Extra Gentle and Ultra Gentle) and how much elemental magnesium they deliver.

For example, our Magnesium Bis- Glycinate 80 Ultra Gentle is a fully reacted chelate. It allows for better absorption and greater protection from interfering substances like prescription medications. Improved absorption means fewer digestive upsets like those found in other magnesium forms. Hence we called it ultra gentle.

There is a trade off though. With increased glycine and chelation, less elemental magnesium is delivered.

Not everyone needs the level of gentleness found in Ultra Gentle. And many people would be better served with more magnesium! Our Magnesium Bis-Glycinate 200 Gentle uses the blended form, trading glycine and chelation for more elemental magnesium – over twice the amount! Magnesium Bis-Glycinate 140 Extra Gentle uses a buffered chelate form. It’s a good in-between option since it offers more elemental magnesium than the chelate and more gentleness than the blend.

Why is there only 80mg per capsule in the Magnesium Bis-Glycinate 80 Ultra Gentle?

Magnesium bis-glycinate chelates have a lower density compared to the blended or buffered chelate forms. The most fully chelated material that will fit into a capsule is around 800mg, delivering 80mg elemental magnesium (10% by weight). If a capsule-based product claims to contain substantially more than 80mg of elemental magnesium derived from the chelated form, it is likely not fully chelated.

So, which form is the best?

That depends on your particular circumstances and needs. We wanted to provide people with a range of options to meet their particular needs. We’ve provided a breakdown of these here.

Can I use your product as a laxative?

No, it’s not designed for it. You’ll want to find a form of magnesium that is not well-absorbed. To better understand this concept, refer to the section “Why does magnesium sometimes cause diarrhea and digestive upset?”

Where do you source your raw materials?

Our Magnesium Bis-Glycinate 200 Gentle uses a blended form of magnesium bis-glycinate that we source from a large trusted mineral supplier in the United States. Our 140 Extra Gentle and 80 Ultra Gentle products use the buffered chelate and chelate forms respectively. These forms are sourced from Albion Minerals and produced in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Has the original 200mg formulation changed?

It hasn’t. It’s the same formulation you’ve come to enjoy. What has changed is our understanding of magnesium bis-glycinate. Since the release of Magnesium Bis-Glycinate 200, we’ve really improved our understanding of what magnesium bis-glycinate is and how it works. And as it improves, so do our offerings.

Not all magnesium bis-glycinates are alike. We want to make sure you have the knowledge to understand the differences and options so that you and your customers can continue to make informed decisions.

We’re making sure our labels are accurate and easy to understand. And we’re making sure there is a magnesium bis-glycinate that’s just right for each person.

We’re doing this because, while our understanding of an ingredient might change, the understanding we share has not. That’s our commitment to you.