Magnesium types explained: from citrate to oxide

Almost every jar of magnesium carries a second word: citrate, bisglycinate, oxide. That word is not a detail. It tells you what the magnesium is bound to, and that determines how much magnesium fits into a capsule and how easily your body absorbs it. In this blog we go through the forms you will find in our shop.

What does citrate or oxide on a jar of magnesium mean?

Magnesium never occurs on its own in nature. It is always bound to another substance: to oxygen (oxide), to citric acid (citrate), to the amino acid glycine (bisglycinate) or to chlorine (chloride). That partner adds weight. That is why a label often shows two figures: how much of the compound is in it, and how much magnesium that leaves.

You will also often come across the terms organic and inorganic. Organic forms are bound to an organic acid or an amino acid, such as citric acid, malic acid or glycine. Inorganic forms are bound to oxygen (oxide), chlorine (chloride), sulphuric acid (sulphate) or carbonic acid (carbonate).

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