Magnesium (Mg) is an important dietary mineral involved in more than 600 biochemical processes in the body. ¹ It boosts our energy and immunity, lowers inflammation and anxiety, improves brain and heart health, supports joint and bone health, and so much more. ²

There’s just one BIG problem… far too many people are deficient! With so many magnesium supplements out there, which is truly the “best” one that can help fix this problem?

Today, let’s discuss the 3 forms of Mg found in our bestselling product, MagEnhance Complete Magnesium Complex. Read on to learn more about Magnesium Glycinate, Magnesium L-Threonate, and Magnesium Taurate, and how these three can help support your health!

How to pick the best magnesium supplement for your health?

Choosing the best magnesium supplement on your own can prove to be challenging – there are so many forms to choose from! Is magnesium glycinate the best one? Or is it magnesium citrate, oxide, ascorbate, orotate, threonate, taurate, or something else? The list goes on and on!

When choosing the best form of Mg for your needs, it’s important to factor in a couple of points:

• Is it bioavailable?
• How much elemental magnesium does it contain?

Determining the Mg supplement’s bioavailability is important because if this mineral isn’t being absorbed and used, then it’s nothing more than expensive waste! Specifically, inorganic salts of magnesium (such as Mg Oxide) have poor bioavailability compared to organic salts like Mg Glycinate. ³ 

On the other hand, elemental magnesium refers to the actual amount of Mg available in the supplement. Since it is highly unstable, it needs to be combined with another molecule to make it stable. Hence, the variety of Mg supplements available.

For example, Mg Oxide has a relatively higher elemental magnesium content at about 60.5%, but it’s also very poorly absorbed. Meanwhile, Mg Glycinate only contains around 11-14% elemental magnesium, Mg Taurate about 7-10%, and Mg Threonate about 7-8% (actual amounts vary). But these 3 forms have better bioavailability than Mg Oxide, so the body effectively uses more Mg!

This is where our MagEnhance Magnesium supplement shines. We’ve formulated it to contain 3 of the most bioavailable and effective forms – Mg Glycinate, Mg Taurate, and Mg L-Threonate.

Let’s discuss each MagEnhance ingredient in detail!

MagEnhance Ingredient #1: Magnesium Glycinate

Mg Glycinate at a glance: ⁴

• Other names: Mg Bisglycinate, Mg Diglycinate
• Parent compound: Glycine (an amino acid)
• Component compound: Mg and Glycine
• Chemical formula: C₄H₈MgN₂O₄
• Molecular weight: 172.42 g/mol
• Chemical structure:

• Each 3-serving capsule of MagEnhance contains 690mg of Mg Glycinate (23% DV)

What are the benefits of Magnesium Glycinate?

Mg Glycinate is an orally available magnesium salt of glycine. Bonding or chelating magnesium with glycine significantly improves its bioavailability, making this form highly effective at increasing body magnesium levels.

Its superior bioavailability was demonstrated in a study published on the FASEB journal. Bariatric surgery patients who took 400mg of Mg Glycinate for 6 weeks observed an improvement in their plasma magnesium levels. But those who took the not-so-absorbable Mg Oxide did not get the same result.

The same study also reported that Mg Glycinate helped raise blood potassium levels in physically active young people, meaning magnesium is actively retaining and distributing potassium in the body. It also helps that Mg Glycinate is gentle on the stomach. ⁵

So, what happens when the body absorbs Mg Glycinate? Well, the magnesium and glycine molecules separate. They then go on to perform their individual functions.  

As mentioned earlier, magnesium is involved in hundreds of biochemical processes, including DNA and RNA synthesis, cellular repair, and more. On the other hand, glycine’s functions include enhancing sleep quality as well as various neurological functions. Research also shows that glycine may have a role in preventing and treating metabolic disorders in patients suffering from obesity, diabetes, cancer, chronic inflammation, and cardiovascular disease. ⁶

Are there any downsides to taking Mg Glycinate?

Not really. But there’s a reason why we added two more forms of magnesium in MagEnhance. Mg Glycinate can indeed raise body magnesium levels. But unfortunately, it DOES NOT cross the blood-brain barrier, which brings us to the next form on our ingredients list, Mg L-Threonate.  

MagEnhance Ingredient #2: Magnesium L-Threonate

Mg L-Threonate at a glance: ⁷

• Patented name: Magtein®
• Other name: L-Threonic Acid Magnesium Salt (L-TAMS)
• Parent compound: L-Threonic acid
• Component compound: Magnesium and L-Threonic acid
• Chemical formula: C₈H₁₄MgO₁₀
• Molecular weight: 294.5 g/mol
• Chemical structure:

• Each 3-serving capsule of MagEnhance contains 1,000mg of Magtein® Magnesium L-Threonate (20% DV)

What are the benefits of Magnesium L-Threonate?

Dubbed the “brain magnesium,” Mg L-Threonate is another highly absorbable form of magnesium. The Mg molecule is bonded or chelated with Threonic acid, a sugar compound derived from ascorbic acid or Vitamin C.

This form of magnesium (patented as Magtein®) was developed by scientists at MIT, Stanford University, and Tsinghua University to cross the blood-brain barrier and increase Mg levels in the brain.

Other forms of Mg cannot pass the blood-brain barrier, but Magtein® can bypass this protective membrane. More Mg in the brain means a boost in brain plasticity, which allows for better connections between neurons in our brain. ⁸  

A 2016 study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease reported that older subjects (age 50-70) with mild cognitive impairment experienced amazing results from taking Mg L-Threonate. After 12 weeks, the researchers reported these remarkable outcomes: ⁹

• The average brain age decreased by about 9 years.
• There was a significant reduction in cognitive impairment. The subjects experienced positive changes in four cognitive areas: attention, working memory, episodic memory, and executive function.
• Both brain and body Mg levels increased.
• When it comes to safety, side effects were only classified as mild.

Are there any downsides to taking Mg L-Threonate?

Magnesium L-Threonate may help boost your brainpower and enhance learning and memory, but there is a slight downside to this particular form.

In the study we’ve quoted above, the researchers couldn’t get a definitive conclusion on the effects of Mg L-Threonate on sleep and anxiety. ¹¹ So, our team added the next ingredient to fill the gap and round up our MagEnhance Complete Magnesium Complex!

MagEnhance Ingredient #3: Magnesium Taurate

Mg Taurate at a glance: ¹⁰

• Other name: Magnesium Ditaurate
• Parent compound: Taurine (an amino acid)
• Component compound: Magnesium and Taurine
• Chemical formula: C₄H₁₂MgN₂O₆S₂
• Molecular weight: 272.6 g/mol
• Chemical structure:

• Each 3-serving capsule of MagEnhance contains 630mg of Magnesium Taurate (13% DV)

What are the benefits of Magnesium Taurate?

Mg Taurate is formed by combining the amino acid taurine with magnesium. But unlike other amino acids, taurine is not used in protein synthesis. Instead, it helps regulate many functions in the body, including cell development and protection. Taurine is abundant in different organs throughout the body, such as the brain, retina, muscles, and more. ¹¹

Taurine also acts on GABA receptors in the nervous system, which is the reason behind its nerve-calming and sleep-enhancing effects. Similarly, Mg also has a strong affinity with GABA receptors. This is why chelating magnesium with taurine makes it a potent relaxing compound, helping ease stress and improving sleep quality. ¹²

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study on elderly subjects suffering from insomnia, the researchers found that Mg helped improve the following: ¹³

• Insomnia severity index, sleep time, sleep efficiency, early morning awakening 
• The concentration of melatonin, serum renin, and serum cortisol 

Another common health benefit between taurine and Mg is their effect on heart health and blood pressure:

• A meta-analysis found that taking 300mg of Mg daily for 30 days helped increase blood magnesium and reduce blood pressure. ¹⁴ The same effect (a decrease in high blood pressure) was also observed in obese women. ¹⁵
• Likewise, oral taurine supplementation in hypertensive patients helped reduce hypertension symptoms. Diabetic patients also experienced a reversal in arterial stiffness and brachial artery reactivity. ¹⁶

Because of these complementary health benefits, one study recommended that future research be done on Mg Taurate’s potential effects on cardiovascular health, diabetes, and insulin sensitivity. ¹⁷

Are there any downsides to taking Mg Taurate?

Like Mg Glycinate, the only downside to Mg Taurate is that it cannot cross the blood-brain barrier. Fortunately, Mg L-Threonate helps solve that limitation.

Final words

The three Mg forms found in our Intelligent Labs MagEnhance Complete Magnesium Complex were chosen for their superior bioavailability and outstanding health benefits. To ensure its premium quality, MagEnhance is manufactured at an NSF GMP-certified facility in the USA. We also do not use any artificial fillers or additives.

Related article: 10 Magnesium Benefits You Need to Know About

References:

1. DiNicolantonio JJ, O’Keefe JH, Wilson W. Subclinical magnesium deficiency: a principal driver of cardiovascular disease and a public health crisis [published correction appears in Open Heart. 2018 Apr 5;5(1):e000668corr1]. Open Heart. 2018;5(1):e000668. Published 2018 Jan 13. doi:10.1136/openhrt-2017-000668 ︎
2. Magnesium Fact Sheet for Health Professionals, from: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/ ︎
3. Ragnar Rylander. (2014). Bioavailability of Magnesium Salts – A Review. Journal of Pharmacy and Nutrition Sciences, 4(1), 57–59. ︎
4. National Center for Biotechnology Information (2023). PubChem Compound Summary for CID 84645, Magnesium glycinate. ︎
5. Magnesium Glycinate Supplementation in Bariatric Surgery Patients and Physically Fit Young Adults, Robert A DiSilvestro, Elizabeth Joseph, Brooke E Starkoff, Steven T Devor, The FASEB Journal, Volume 27, Issue S1 p. lb291-lb291 ︎
6. Razak MA, Begum PS, Viswanath B, Rajagopal S. Multifarious Beneficial Effect of Nonessential Amino Acid, Glycine: A Review [published correction appears in Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2022 Feb 23;2022:9857645]. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2017;2017:1716701. doi:10.1155/2017/1716701 ︎
7. National Center for Biotechnology Information (2023). PubChem Compound Summary for CID 45489777, Magnesium L-Threonate. ︎
8. Taken from: https://magtein.com/pages/magtein-science ︎
9. Liu G, Weinger JG, Lu ZL, Xue F, Sadeghpour S. Efficacy and Safety of MMFS-01, a Synapse Density Enhancer, for Treating Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. J Alzheimers Dis. 2016;49(4):971-990. doi:10.3233/JAD-150538 ︎
10. National Center for Biotechnology Information (2023). PubChem Compound Summary for CID 13343447, Magnesium taurate.  ︎
11. Ripps H, Shen W. Review: taurine: a “very essential” amino acid. Mol Vis. 2012;18:2673-2686. ︎
12. Taurine and GABA neurotransmitter receptors, a relationship with therapeutic potential? Lenin Ochoa-de la Paz, Edgar Zenteno ︎
13. The effect of magnesium supplementation on primary insomnia in elderly: A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial, Behnood Abbasi, Masud Kimiagar, et al. J Res Med Sci. 2012 Dec; 17(12): 1161–1169. ︎
14. Zhang X, Li Y, Del Gobbo LC, et al. Effects of Magnesium Supplementation on Blood Pressure: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trials. Hypertension. 2016;68(2):324-333. doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.116.07664 ︎
15. Association of Magnesium Intake with High Blood Pressure in Korean Adults: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2009, Mi-Kyeong Choi,Yun Jung Bae, Published: June 15, 2015 ︎
16. Role of taurine in the vasculature: an overview of experimental and human studies, Worku Abebe and Mahmood S Mozaffari, Am J Cardiovasc Dis. 2011; 1(3): 293–311. ︎
17. McCarty MF. Complementary vascular-protective actions of magnesium and taurine: a rationale for magnesium taurate. Med Hypotheses. 1996;46(2):89-100. doi:10.1016/s0306-9877(96)90007-9 ︎

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