Magnesium glycerophosphate – underestimated raw material?
Magnesium glycerophosphate is a unique organic salt. Interestingly, it is a combination of glycerol, phosphate and magnesium ions. All this in one molecule!
Let’s start with the recommendations of the European Food Safety Authority….
According to the latest EFSA recommendations, the daily intake of magnesium should be 300 mg for men and 400 mg for women. How do these figures look like in Polish reality? Well, the average intake of magnesium among men is 350 mg. Among women, it is 255 mg per day. Let’s point out that these results are from the Polish – Norwegian Study and this research was conducted in February 2021.
Are Polish women and men at risk of magnesium deficiency?
The figures cited above indicate that the daily intake of this macronutrient does not drastically deviate from the recommended doses. However, there are voices from many parts of the scientific world predicting that more than 70% of women and 90% of men are at risk of deficiency of this supplement. How is it that low concentrations of this macronutrient are recorded in the body, despite the consumption of almost adequate amounts of magnesium ions? Well, it has to do with the use of preparations with low bioavailability and the consumption of other foods rich in phytates which in turn hinder the absorption of magnesium.
Is magnesium glycerophosphate worth looking into?
Before answering this question, it is important to consider what characterizes this compound. It has high compress ability and this is due to the fact that part of it is derived from hydrophilic glycerol which can form hydrogen bonds between molecules. Thus, this raw material is characterized by ease of processing. It should also be noted that magnesium glycerophosphate has got neutral taste. Interestingly, due to its chemical stability, it can be successfully used in forms for oral consumption, which can be intended for dissolution.
What does the situation with magnesium glycerophosphate look like on the Polish market?
A huge variety of magnesium forms are available on the market. Unfortunately, most of them dissolve poorly in the acidic environment of the stomach. This contributes to magnesium ions being poorly absorbed and this leads to ineffective supplementation despite high doses.
What supplements should we take to supply our body with the right amount of magnesium?
Research clearly indicates that organic forms, such as amino acid chelates of magnesium bisglycinate and magnesium glycerophosphate, have higher bioavailability. There are two formulations of magnesium glycerophosphate available from Advantic. We are talking about Magnesium Glycerophosphate, which is a product in the form of a white powder with a magnesium content of more than 10.4%, and Magnesium Glycerophosphate DC (direct compression) which is designed directly for tableting and is in the form of granules with fine grains, white color and magnesium content also exceeding 10.4%.
Despite the fact that magnesium glycerophosphate is an approved chemical form of magnesium for use in dietary supplements within the European Union, it is still in short supply on the Polish market.
