Metagenics Clinically Effective Magnesium

Meta Mag® is a unique and advanced type of magnesium chelate that shows enhanced bioavailability over several types of magnesium 1.

Magnesium salts are commonly used as laxatives and include forms such as:

• Magnesium oxide.
• Magnesium sulfate.
• Magnesium citrate.

Covalent Bonds and Bioavailablity

Meta Mag® is different to magnesium salts and other magnesium chelates because it is covalently bound to two glycine molecules.2 Covalent bonding is a strong chemical bond where electrons are shared.

Mineral bisglycinates have been compared, in vitro, to mineral salts and proven to be resistant to forces that commonly cause dissociation and poor absorption such as:

• Increases in gut acidity.3
• Food ligands such as phytates.4
• Interaction with other minerals.5

All of these factors may cause magnesium salts (with weaker ionic bonds) to dissociate, reducing absorption.6

Covalent bonding is highly resistant to forces in the gut that commonly break apart other bonds.

Unbound Magnesium and Diarrhoea

Unbound magnesium is absorbed via divalent mineral absorption channels. This process can be inefficient and is slowed down when different minerals are competing for absorption. Unbound magnesium may also attract water into the lumen where it may increase peristalsis causing unpleasant side effects such as:8

• Diarrhoea.
• Gut discomfort.

Meta Mag® and Glycine

Meta Mag® consists of a magnesium molecule covalently bound to two glycine molecules. As glycine is the smallest of all amino acids (the entire Meta Mag® molecule weighs less than 1500 daltons),9 Meta Mag® is small enough to be absorbed intact into the gut enterocyte via the abundant dipeptide absorption channels.10