Magnesium oxide is (surprisingly) better absorbed than citrate –
Comparison of magnesium status using X-ray dispersion analysis following magnesium oxide and magnesium citrate treatment of healthy subjects.
Shechter, Michael, et al.
Magnesium research 25.1 (2012): 28-39.
http://www.jle.com/download/mrh-292422-comparison_of_magnesium_status_using_x_ray_dispersion_analysis_following_magnesium_oxide_and_magnesium_citrate_treatment_of_healthy_s–Whrf@H8AAQEAACBLEjMAAAAL-a.pdf
- Felt that ” The magnesium content in food consumed in the Western world is steadily decreasing. Hypomagnesemia is associated with increased incidence of diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, all-cause and coronary artery disease mortality.”
- Investigated oral magnesium citrate (295.8 mg/day of elemental magnesium) versus magnesium oxide (520 mg/day of elemental magnesium) on intracellular magnesium levels ([Mg2+]i) and platelet function in healthy subjects.
- randomized, prospective, double-blind, crossover study,.
- “Oral magnesium oxide, rather than magnesium citrate, significantly increased [Mg2+]i (34.4±3 versus 36.3±2 mEq/L, p<0.001 and 34.7±2 versus 35.4±2 mEq/L, p=0.097; respectively), reduced total cholesterol (201±37 versus 186±27 mg/dL, p=0.016 and 187±28 versus 187±25 mg/dL, p=0.978; respectively) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (128±22 versus 120±25 mg/dL, p=0.042 and 120±23 versus 121±22 mg/dL, p=0.622; respectively).”
- “Noteworthy is that both treatments significantly reduced epinephrine-induced platelet aggregation (78.9±16% versus 71.7±23%, p=0.013 and 81.3±15% versus 73.3±23%, p=0.036; respectively). “
- “Thus, oral magnesium oxide treatment significantly improved [Mg2+]i, total and LDL cholesterol compared with magnesium citrate, while both treatments similarly inhibited platelet aggregation in healthy subjects with no apparent heart disease.”
Comment _ I now tell patients to take whatever magnesium is cheapest and take it to point just before they get diarrhea.