Introduction
A manufacturer developing a magnesium supplement usually starts with one question: which salt should we use? The two forms compared most often are magnesium lactate and magnesium citrate. Both are organic magnesium salts, both dissolve in water and both are on the list of magnesium forms permitted in food supplements (Annex II to Directive 2002/46/EC). They differ, however, in magnesium content, and therefore in the amount of raw material needed for the same dose, and in the product formats they suit best.
In this article we compare the two forms from the perspective of the formulator and the purchasing department: how much raw material to weigh per serving, how to match the salt to a capsule, tablet or sachet, and what to look for in the specification.
01. What is magnesium lactate
Magnesium lactate is the magnesium salt of lactic acid. Food supplements and foods use the dihydrate of magnesium L-lactate, Mg(C3H5O3)2 · 2H2O, with a molar mass of 238.5 g/mol. As a food additive it carries the number E329.
The magnesium lactate offered by AGREMA Poland is a white, fine crystalline powder, soluble in water, with a pH of 6.5–8.5 in a 5% solution. It contains 10.0–10.5% magnesium, which matches the theoretical value for the dihydrate (approx. 10.2%). The product complies with the European Pharmacopoeia 11.0, is non-GMO, Halal and Kosher certified, and is free from allergens.
02. Magnesium lactate vs magnesium citrate
The most important practical difference is the magnesium content of the salt. Magnesium citrate contains about 1.5 times more magnesium than the lactate, so less raw material is needed for the same dose. The lactate, in turn, gives a neutral pH in solution, which makes it easier to combine with other ingredients of the formula.
| Parameter | Magnesium lactate | Magnesium citrate anhydrous | Magnesium citrate malate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magnesium content | 10.0–10.5% | 14.5–16.4% | 12.0–15.0% (dry basis) |
| Raw material per 100 mg of magnesium | approx. 950–1000 mg | approx. 610–690 mg | approx. 670–830 mg |
| Appearance | white, fine crystalline powder | white, fine crystalline powder | fine crystalline powder |
| Solubility | soluble in water | min. 4 g / 100 ml of water | soluble in water |
| Typical product formats | tablets, capsules, sachets, combinations with vitamin B6 | capsules, tablets, powders for solution (also an effervescent grade) | capsules, tablets, blends with other salts |
Data according to the specifications of raw materials offered by AGREMA Poland. The “raw material per 100 mg of magnesium” range results from the minimum and maximum magnesium content in the specification.
03. How much raw material per serving – formulation calculations
The label of a food supplement declares magnesium, not the weight of the salt. The nutrient reference value (NRV) for magnesium for adults is 375 mg (Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011). For the amount to be considered significant, the daily portion should provide at least 15% of the NRV, i.e. approx. 56 mg of magnesium.
| Magnesium per daily portion | % NRV | Magnesium lactate | Magnesium citrate anhydrous |
|---|---|---|---|
| 56 mg | 15% | approx. 540–560 mg | approx. 340–390 mg |
| 100 mg | 27% | approx. 950–1000 mg | approx. 610–690 mg |
| 187.5 mg | 50% | approx. 1790–1880 mg | approx. 1140–1290 mg |
| 250 mg | 67% | approx. 2380–2500 mg | approx. 1520–1720 mg |
In practice, at higher doses magnesium lactate requires more capsules or a larger tablet than the citrate. At doses of around 50–100 mg of magnesium per portion the difference is smaller, and the choice more often depends on other parameters: pH, the taste of the finished product, behaviour in the blend and the price per kilogram of magnesium rather than per kilogram of salt. For formulation calculations, use the value from the current certificate of analysis of the given batch.
04. Matching the form to the product format
- Capsules – with a limited capsule volume, the magnesium content of the salt matters. The citrate fits more magnesium into the same volume; the lactate works well at lower doses and in combined formulas.
- Tablets – the fine crystalline powders of both the lactate and the citrate are suitable for tableting with typical excipients; plan the tablet mass using the calculations in the table above.
- Sachets and powders for solution – solubility and taste after dissolution are key. For effervescent tablets and powders we offer an effervescent grade of magnesium citrate.
- Combinations with vitamin B6 – magnesium lactate is a common form in magnesium and vitamin B6 products, and its neutral pH in solution makes it easier to combine ingredients.
- Fortified foods – magnesium lactate (E329) is a food additive, so it is also used outside food supplements, e.g. in beverages and fortified products. Conditions of use must be checked for the specific food category.
05. Bioavailability and dosing safety
Magnesium lactate and citrate are soluble organic salts, described in the literature as better absorbed than poorly soluble magnesium oxide. The choice between lactate and citrate is less often decided by bioavailability itself and more often by the technological parameters described above. Tolerance also matters to the consumer: magnesium lactate is described as gentler on the stomach, while the citrate, especially at higher doses, more often has a laxative effect.
When designing the dose, remember the tolerable upper intake level for magnesium from food supplements and fortified foods, set at 250 mg per day for adults (Scientific Committee on Food, confirmed by EFSA). The limit reflects the risk of a laxative effect from large single doses of readily dissociable magnesium salts and does not include magnesium naturally present in food. At higher doses it is worth splitting the daily portion into two servings.
06. What to check in the specification
- Magnesium content (10.0–10.5% for the lactate) – the basis for formulation calculations and the label declaration.
- L(+) isomer – min. 95.0% in the lactate we offer.
- Loss on drying (14.0–17.0% for the dihydrate) – confirms the hydrate form and affects the calculations.
- Heavy metals – lead max. 2 mg/kg, cadmium max. 1 mg/kg, arsenic max. 1 mg/kg, mercury max. 0.1 mg/kg.
- Microbiology – total plate count max. 1000 cfu/g, yeasts and moulds max. 100 cfu/g, E. coli and Salmonella absent.
- Pharmacopoeia compliance – the magnesium lactate offered by AGREMA Poland complies with Ph. Eur. 11.0, which makes it suitable for products with higher quality requirements.
07. Magnesium salts offered by AGREMA Poland
In addition to the lactate and citrate, we offer a wider range of magnesium forms for manufacturers of food supplements and functional foods:
- Magnesium lactate
- Magnesium citrate anhydrous
- Magnesium citrate effervescent
- Magnesium citrate malate
- Magnesium glycinate
- Magnesium malate
- Magnesium taurate
- Magnesium threonate
- Liposomal magnesium
08. Technological conclusion
Magnesium lactate is a well-described, soluble organic salt with a neutral pH and pharmacopoeial quality, convenient in combined formulas, magnesium and vitamin B6 products and products with a moderate magnesium dose. Magnesium citrate contains more magnesium per unit of mass, so it works better where serving volume matters and in effervescent powders. The choice should be based on converting the magnesium dose into raw material mass, the product format and an application trial on the current batch specification. In products for consumers with a sensitive stomach, its better tolerance is an additional argument for the lactate.
Contact our expert
Looking for technological samples, technical specifications or an individual contract quote?
Mariusz Henzel – Sales Director
Mobile: +48 570 616 170
Landline: +48 (71) 388 93 50
Email: henzel.m@agrema.pl / agrema@agrema.pl
Website: www.agrema.pl