Is Magnesium Citrate a Preferred Choice?
By Demi Sumler
Magnesium is essential for the health of your body and brain and has several positive effects on your circulatory system, blood glucose levels, and emotional well-being such as depression and anxiety and works to support bone health and sleep quality for issues like insomnia.
This mineral exists in every cell in your body and is essential for its proper functioning. From leafy greens to nuts, seeds, and beans, it may be found in a wide range of foods. However, many people including kids do not consume enough in their diet. When kids take magnesium supplements, they get the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development.
What is Magnesium Citrate?
One kind of magnesium that is frequently used as a supplement is magnesium citrate. Magnesium citrate is a salt and an ionic molecule that comprises both positive magnesium ions and negative citrate ions, which interact with positive hydrogen ions to create citric acid. Magnesium citrate is a great source of dietary magnesium since it dissolves easily in water and absorbs quickly into the body’s tissues and bloodstream. For the body to absorb magnesium, it must be bonded to a carrier. The same holds for all minerals. Magnesium molecules attached to citric acid organically form magnesium citrate.
The Absorption of Magnesium Citrate
Magnesium is available in a wide variety of forms. Citrate and bisglycinate are most likely the two magnesium compounds that are most known and compared. According to the market, it is said that citrate has a lower rate of absorption than bisglycinate. However, magnesium citrate is in fact efficiently absorbed by the body since it is in an organically bonded form and has higher bioavailability compared to bisglycinate. Studies revealed that supplementation of the organic forms demonstrated greater absorption and after 60 days of treatment, citrate led to improved bioavailability when compared to other treatments and showed a superior absorption rate than magnesium oxide and magnesium chelate1. Magnesium glycinate, derived from a salt that’s been created with glycine, takes longer to regulate the body effectively. In contrast, magnesium citrate’s quick absorption allows it to start working a couple of hours after intake.
Citrate and its Laxative Effect
We are aware of the laxative effect of high-dose magnesium, but the cause and reason are rather undefined. Many people are unaware that magnesium citrate can be safely consumed by children without causing them to experience unfavourable side effects.
The intestines release water into the stool as a result of magnesium. This softens the stools and eases irregularity and constipation. When there is an excess of magnesium at once, the bowels quickly eliminate it. Some people assume that this indicates that your body didn’t absorb it. However, it means that you consumed more than your body could use at once. A smaller dosage can prevent this problem.
Magnesium citrate, which is the active component in many commercially available laxatives, is gentler than some of the other magnesium compounds. allKiDz offers an effective magnesium potency (55mg of elemental Mg/gummy) in the gentle citrate form which is designed to be safe for kids and does not intend to be laxative. Unlike other supplements with high dose which could easily lead to laxative effects, our dosing is rather flexible so your kid will easily enjoy the benefit of Magnesium without suffering from its unfavourable side effects.
Summary
One of the most popular forms of magnesium is magnesium citrate, which has been said to be one of the easiest forms to be absorbed by the body and the most affordable when compared to other forms. High dose magnesium citrate acts as a natural laxative and assists in relieving constipation since it is an organic salt that draws water into the gut. The real reason for the laxative effects of taking magnesium citrate is that there is too much unabsorbed magnesium. The likelihood of experiencing diarrhea increases with dosage which is why allKiDz Magnesium Gummies is a great and suitable option for kids, while also offering the magnesium form that is highly bioavailable.
References:
1. Walker AF. et al., Mg citrate found more bioavailable than other Mg preparations in a randomised, double-blind study. Magnes Res. 2003 Sep;16(3):183-91.