Why more and more people are taking extra magnesium

Magnesium is involved in more than 300 processes in the body: from muscle function and energy metabolism to bone formation and nerve function. Yet nearly two-thirds of the Western population does not reach the recommended daily intake through diet alone. Not because people eat poorly, but because the soil on which our food grows has delivered five times fewer minerals over the past century. Nutritional scientist Paul Bergner documented this decline as early as 1997: spinach, tomatoes, lettuce, the mineral content of all these has fallen sharply due to the rise of artificial fertilisers.

The result: even with a healthy diet, supplementation is worthwhile for most people. But not every magnesium supplement is the same. The form determines how much actually reaches your cells.

The European Health Council advises 300 mg of elemental magnesium per day for women and 350 mg for men.

Average mineral content (calcium, magnesium and iron) in vegetables in the US, 1914–1997. Source: Bergner 1997, The Healing Power of Minerals.

Why bisglycinate and what makes our formulation different

In magnesium oxide and magnesium citrate, the bond between magnesium and oxide or citrate breaks down in the stomach. The released magnesium becomes osmotically active in the intestines: it draws in fluid and causes gastrointestinal complaints in many people at higher doses. Effective for constipation, but not ideal if you want magnesium for relaxation, sleep, or muscle function.

Magnesium bisglycinate works differently. The magnesium is bound to two molecules of the amino acid glycine, a chelation so stable that it remains intact under the acidic environment in the stomach (Schuette et al., 1994). The mineral arrives protected in the intestine and is absorbed directly here, without the side effects that less stable forms give.

Furthermore, the amino acid glycine is more than just a transport molecule. It is an amino acid involved in the body’s production of collagen, glutathione (one of the most important antioxidants), and creatine. Glycine is naturally plant-based, making bisglycinate fully suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

The formulation: why 20% and not pure bisglycinate?

This is where it gets interesting, and where our capsules set themselves apart from most products on the market.

Pure magnesium bisglycinate naturally contains 14.4% elemental magnesium. That is the chemical reality: the glycine carrying the magnesium takes up space. A 1,000 mg capsule of pure bisglycinate would therefore deliver only 144 mg of active magnesium.

We use a 20% formulation. Each capsule contains 1,000 mg of ingredient and delivers 200 mg of elemental magnesium. That is 39% more active magnesium at the same capsule size.

How? The core of the capsule is magnesium bisglycinate. To raise the elemental dosage from 14.4% to 20%, a carefully calculated proportion of magnesium oxide has been added. This is not a compromise, it is a deliberate formulation choice that combines two properties that normally exclude one another:

• The bisglycinate delivers chelated magnesium with high bioavailability and minimal intestinal burden
• The oxide efficiently increases the total elemental dosage, without undermining the gentleness of the bisglycinate

The purest magnesium capsule we make

Turn the packaging over and read the ingredient list. It is short: magnesium bisglycinate, magnesium oxide, and a plant-based capsule. Three ingredients.

No filler, no coating, no anti-caking agent, no stearic acid, no glycerine, no carnauba wax.

Most magnesium supplements do contain all of these excipients, not for your health, but to make the manufacturing process cheaper or easier.

We produce the capsules in our own facility in the Netherlands. That means we decide what goes in. And equally importantly: what does not. The result is the purest magnesium product in our range.

The capsule itself is made from HPMC (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), a plant-based material.

From contents to shell: completely plant-based, suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Use and dosage

Recommended dosage: 2 capsules per day, preferably with a meal. This provides 400 mg of elemental magnesium (106% RI) and 1,600 mg of glycine.

When building up your magnesium intake, you may start with 1 capsule per day and increase to 2 capsules after one week.

Authorised health claims

The following health claims have been officially authorised by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for magnesium:

Who is this product suitable for?

Those who want the purest formulation. Three ingredients, no excipients. If you consciously choose a supplement with the shortest possible ingredient list, this is your product.

Those who want to supplement 200–400 mg of magnesium daily. One capsule with breakfast, one with dinner. No weighing, no mixing, no taste.

Those who struggle to sleep or feel tense easily. Magnesium contributes to the normal functioning of the nervous system.

Those with a sensitive stomach. The chelation of bisglycinate prevents the osmotic effect that causes gastrointestinal complaints with oxide and citrate at higher doses.

Vegetarians and vegans. From capsule to contents, completely plant-based. Glycine is plant-based, HPMC is plant-based, no animal-derived excipients.

The complete magnesium range from Kala Health

Kala Health offers several magnesium formulas, each with its own profile. Whether you prefer bisglycinate in capsules, tablets, or powder, or would rather use marine magnesium: there is always a product to suit your needs.

How we ensure quality

These capsules are produced in our own FSSC 22000 certified facility in the Netherlands. With a product containing just three ingredients, the quality of the raw material is everything. That is why we check twice.

Step 1 — on arrival: Every delivery of magnesium bisglycinate (+oxide) is tested for magnesium content (minimum 20%), microbiological purity, and heavy metals, recorded in the Product Specification Sheet personally signed by our production team.

Step 2 — after production: Every batch is independently analysed by Eurofins, an RvA-accredited laboratory. The most recent analysis shows how clean this product is: cadmium more than twenty times below the European safety limit, lead more than one hundred and fifty times. Microbiologically: below the detection limit.

Both documents are publicly available in the product gallery. Not as a marketing tool, but because you have the right to know what you are taking.

The product is certified GMO-free in accordance with EC 1830/2003 and non-irradiated in accordance with EC 1999/2.

Developed by Kala Health since 1997

Kala Health was founded in 1997 by Paul Klein Breteler. Our Magnesium Bisglycinate Capsules were personally formulated by Paul. The decision to use only the 20% formulation and exclusively a plant-based capsule, with no excipients, is characteristic of Paul’s approach to product development: do not add more than is necessary.

Do you have questions about this product or about magnesium supplementation in general? Our team of nutrition specialists, therapists, and pharmacists is here to help. Call or email us. Advice is always free and without obligation.

Product properties

• 200 mg elemental magnesium per capsule, 53% RI
• Just three ingredients: magnesium bisglycinate, magnesium oxide, and a plant-based capsule
• Chelated magnesium: bound to two molecules of glycine
• 100% plant-based: HPMC capsule, suitable for vegetarians and vegans
• Gentle on the stomach: well tolerated, even with daily use
• Glycine as a functional amino acid: involved in collagen, glutathione, and creatine synthesis
• Produced in our own FSSC 22000 certified facility in the Netherlands
• Double-checked: raw material (PSS) and finished product (Eurofins)
• GMO-free (EC 1830/2003) and non-irradiated (EC 1999/2)
• Free from yeast, gluten, lactose, soy, and artificial flavourings, colourings, and taste enhancers
• Available in 60 and 180 capsules

References

1. Bergner, P. (1997). The Healing Power of Minerals, Special Nutrients, and Trace Elements. Prima Publishing.
2. Schuette, S. A., Lashner, B. A., & Janghorbani, M. (1994). Bioavailability of magnesium diglycinate vs magnesium oxide in patients with ileal resection. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, 18(5), 430–435.
3. Coudray, C., Rambeau, M., Feillet-Coudray, C., Gueux, E., Tressol, J. C., Mazur, A., & Rayssiguier, Y. (2005). Study of magnesium bioavailability from ten organic and inorganic Mg salts in Mg-depleted rats using a stable isotope approach. Magnesium Research, 18(4), 215–223.

 

Important notice

A food supplement is not a substitute for a varied diet. A varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle are important. This product is a food supplement (contains magnesium).

Consult a healthcare professional before using supplements in the case of pregnancy, breastfeeding (lactation), use of medication, or illness. This food supplement is not suitable for children up to and including 10 years of age.

Due to legal restrictions, we are unable to provide full details about the possible effects of this food supplement. For substantive questions or personal advice, we are available by telephone on: (+31) 070 345 0290. And by e-mail: info@kalahealth.nl.