Q: What are the Health Canada approved uses for this product?
A: This product is approved by Health Canada (NPN 80077844) for the following uses: helps to maintain proper muscle function, including the heart muscle; helps in the development and maintenance of bones and teeth; helps to maintain the body's ability to metabolize nutrients; and a factor in the maintenance of good health. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Q: What does "chelated" mean and what is magnesium bisglycinate?
A: A chelate (from the Greek word for claw) is a compound in which a mineral ion is bound to an organic ligand through coordinate bonds, with the ligand wrapping around the mineral like a claw. In magnesium bisglycinate, one magnesium ion (Mg2+) is bound to two glycine molecules (hence "bis" meaning two, and "glycinate" referring to the glycine ligand). The two glycine molecules coordinate to the magnesium ion through their amino and carboxyl groups, forming a stable ring structure that encases the magnesium. This chelated structure protects the magnesium from forming insoluble complexes in the GI tract and allows it to be absorbed via amino acid and peptide transport pathways in the intestinal wall, in addition to the magnesium ion channels used by non-chelated forms.
Q: Why is magnesium bisglycinate considered more bioavailable than other forms of magnesium?
A: Non-chelated magnesium salts dissociate in the GI tract, releasing free magnesium ions. Free magnesium ions can form insoluble complexes with phytates (found in grains and legumes), oxalates (found in many vegetables), and phosphates in the intestinal environment, reducing the amount of magnesium available for absorption. Chelated magnesium bisglycinate remains intact in the GI tract because the glycine ligands protect the magnesium from these interactions. The chelate is then absorbed via amino acid and peptide transport pathways, in addition to the standard magnesium ion channels. This dual absorption pathway contributes to the superior bioavailability of chelated magnesium bisglycinate compared to non-chelated forms such as magnesium oxide, magnesium sulfate, and magnesium carbonate.
Q: Why is magnesium bisglycinate gentler on the digestive system than other magnesium supplements?
A: High doses of non-chelated magnesium salts draw water into the intestinal lumen through osmosis, which can cause loose stools or diarrhea. This laxative effect is a common complaint with non-chelated magnesium supplements, particularly magnesium oxide and magnesium sulfate. Chelated magnesium bisglycinate is absorbed more efficiently in the small intestine before reaching the large intestine, reducing the osmotic load in the colon and making it significantly gentler on the digestive system. This makes magnesium bisglycinate the preferred form for individuals who have experienced digestive discomfort with other magnesium supplements.
Q: What is the source of magnesium in this formula?
A: This formula provides 200mg of elemental magnesium per capsule, with magnesium bisglycinate as the primary highly bioavailable chelated form, with additional magnesium oxide to support total elemental magnesium content. Magnesium bisglycinate is the primary and premium form, providing the chelated magnesium with superior bioavailability and gentle GI profile. Magnesium oxide contributes additional elemental magnesium to reach the 200mg total per capsule. Magnesium oxide has a high elemental magnesium content by weight (approximately 60%), making it an efficient way to contribute to the total elemental magnesium dose.
Q: What role does glycine play beyond being the chelation ligand?
A: Glycine (H2N-CH2-COOH) is the simplest amino acid and serves as the ligand that binds to magnesium in magnesium bisglycinate. Beyond its role as a chelation ligand, glycine has its own physiological functions. It is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, particularly in the brainstem and spinal cord, where it acts on glycine receptors to reduce neuronal excitability. Glycine is also the most abundant amino acid in collagen and is required for collagen synthesis. It is one of the three amino acid substrates for glutathione synthesis (alongside glutamate and cysteine) and plays a role in bile acid conjugation. The glycine released from magnesium bisglycinate after absorption contributes these additional physiological benefits alongside the magnesium itself.
Q: How does magnesium support muscle function, including the heart muscle?
A: Magnesium plays a critical role in both skeletal and cardiac muscle function. In skeletal muscle, calcium triggers muscle contraction by binding to troponin and initiating the actin-myosin cross-bridge cycle. Muscle relaxation requires the removal of calcium from the muscle cell cytoplasm back into the sarcoplasmic reticulum, a process carried out by the SERCA (sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase) pump. SERCA is an ATP-dependent pump that requires magnesium as a cofactor. When magnesium is insufficient, SERCA activity is impaired, calcium removal is slowed, and the muscle remains in a partially contracted state, contributing to muscle cramps, spasms, and tension. In cardiac muscle, magnesium regulates the activity of potassium and calcium ion channels in cardiac cells, contributing to the maintenance of normal cardiac electrophysiology and heart rhythm. This is why the Health Canada approved use specifically includes the heart muscle.
Q: How does magnesium support bone and teeth health?
A: Approximately 60% of the body's total magnesium is stored in bone, where it is incorporated into the hydroxyapatite crystal structure of bone mineral. Magnesium influences bone quality by affecting the size and crystallinity of hydroxyapatite crystals: adequate magnesium produces smaller, less brittle crystals with greater flexibility, while magnesium deficiency produces larger, more brittle crystals. Magnesium is also required for the activation of Vitamin D: the conversion of 25-hydroxyvitamin D to the active form 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (calcitriol) by the enzyme 1-alpha-hydroxylase requires magnesium as a cofactor. Since calcitriol is the primary regulator of intestinal calcium absorption, magnesium deficiency can impair calcium absorption even when Vitamin D levels appear adequate. Magnesium also influences the activity of osteoblasts (bone-forming cells) and osteoclasts (bone-resorbing cells), contributing to the ongoing process of bone remodeling.
Q: How does magnesium support nutrient metabolism?
A: Magnesium is a cofactor for all ATP-dependent enzymatic reactions, which includes virtually every step of energy metabolism. ATP (adenosine triphosphate) exists in cells primarily as the Mg-ATP complex rather than as free ATP, meaning magnesium is required for ATP to function as an energy carrier. In glycolysis (the breakdown of glucose to pyruvate), multiple enzymes including hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, and pyruvate kinase require Mg-ATP as their substrate. In the citric acid cycle, isocitrate dehydrogenase and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase require magnesium. In oxidative phosphorylation, ATP synthase requires magnesium. Magnesium is also required for DNA and RNA synthesis and for protein synthesis as a component of the ribosome structure. This pervasive role across all major metabolic pathways is the basis for the approved use of helping to maintain the body's ability to metabolize nutrients.
Q: How many servings does the 300 capsule bottle provide and who is it suitable for?
A: At the suggested dose of 1 capsule once per day, the 300 capsule bottle provides a 300 day supply, approximately 10 months from a single bottle. This is one of the longest supply durations available in a single magnesium supplement bottle, supporting consistent long term daily use without frequent reordering. This product is suitable for adults and adolescents 9 to 18 years of age.
Q: Are there any safety considerations I should know about?
A: Consult a healthcare professional before use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Consult a healthcare professional before use if you have kidney disease or impaired kidney function, as magnesium is primarily excreted by the kidneys and can accumulate in individuals with reduced kidney function. Consult a healthcare professional before use if you are taking medications including antibiotics (tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones), bisphosphonates (used for bone density), or diuretics, as magnesium can affect the absorption or activity of these medications. Do not exceed the recommended dose. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Q: Is this product suitable for vegans and vegetarians?
A: Yes. The magnesium bisglycinate and magnesium oxide are mineral compounds with no animal derived components. The capsule shell is made from hypromellose (vegetable cellulose), not gelatin. The non medicinal ingredients (magnesium stearate and hypromellose) are both suitable for vegans. The product is non GMO and gluten free.
