Why more and more people are taking extra magnesium

You watch your diet, eat plenty of vegetables and assume you are well covered. Yet the figures suggest otherwise. Nearly two thirds of the population in the Western world does not reach the recommended daily amount of magnesium. Dietary guidelines recommend 300 mg per day for women and 350 mg for men. In practice, the majority falls structurally short.

This is not down to your choices, but to the food itself. Researcher Paul Bergner demonstrated that the average mineral content in vegetables declined by a factor of 5 between 1914 and 1997. What happened: intensive agriculture depletes the soil. Fertilisers replenish nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, but not magnesium. The mineral disappears with every harvest from the soil and therefore from your plate.

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

Cooking amplifies the effect (magnesium dissolves in cooking water), and factors such as vitamin D deficiency, medication use and the natural ageing process put further pressure on absorption. The result: many people structurally take in less magnesium than their body needs, without realising it. A good magnesium supplement can make that difference. The question is: which one?

Not all magnesium is equal: why bisglycinate

Anyone who has tried a cheap magnesium supplement before may recognise it: an unsettled stomach, cramps or loose stools. This is because many magnesium forms, such as oxide and citrate, break apart in the stomach. The released magnesium draws moisture into the intestines and causes complaints, precisely at the dosages that should be effective.

Magnesium Bisglycinate works differently. Here, magnesium ions are firmly bound to two molecules of the amino acid glycine. This bond, called chelation, is so strong that it remains intact under the influence of stomach acid (Schuette et al., 1994). No free magnesium in the intestines, no osmotic complaints. The mineral arrives protected in the intestine and is absorbed there as it should be.

And glycine itself delivers something too. It is involved in the body in the production of collagen, glutathione (one of the most important antioxidants) and creatine. With bisglycinate you receive magnesium and a functional amino acid in one.

200 mg elemental magnesium in one tablet

Not all magnesium in a supplement is directly usable by the body. The number that matters is elemental magnesium: the amount your body can actually absorb and use. Our tablets contain 1,000 mg magnesium bisglycinate per tablet, of which 200 mg is elemental magnesium. That is 53% of the daily nutrient reference value in one tablet.

Enriched with bioflavonoids

In addition to magnesium, our tablets contain bioflavonoids: plant-based polyphenols that occur naturally in vegetables, fruit and herbs. They are the same compounds responsible for the vivid colours of berries, citrus fruits and dark leafy greens.

No other Kala Health magnesium product contains bioflavonoids. It is a deliberate choice by product developer Paul Klein Breteler to enrich the tablet form with these plant-based compounds. This way, this tablet delivers more than just magnesium.

Easy to use

The tablets have a smooth coating and are compact enough to take effortlessly with a glass of water. Take one tablet with breakfast or dinner. The format also makes them practical to take along: when travelling, to the office or in your gym bag.

Feedback from our customers confirms this: users particularly appreciate the gentle effect on the stomach, the convenience and the compact format.

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 convenience of a tablet without compromising on quality. One tablet per day delivers 200 mg chelated magnesium with bioflavonoids. No powder to measure, no bitter taste, no capsules to count. Take it with a meal and you are done.

Those who want to take magnesium over a longer period. Magnesium supplementation works best when maintained consistently. The 180-count pack is designed for exactly that: six months’ supply at one tablet per day, for €0.28 per day. Many of our customers deliberately choose this pack because it is cost-effective and they do not need to reorder each time.

People with a sensitive stomach. The chelation of bisglycinate prevents the osmotic effect that can cause gastrointestinal complaints with magnesium oxide and magnesium citrate. This makes the tablets well tolerated, even with daily use.

The complete magnesium range from Kala Health

Kala Health offers multiple magnesium formulas, each with its own profile. Whether you prefer bisglycinate, marine magnesium, powder, tablets or capsules: there is always a product that suits your needs.

How we ensure quality

These tablets are produced in our own FSSC 22000 certified facility in the Netherlands. That is noteworthy: most supplement companies outsource tablet production to a co-packer. We do it ourselves. Tablet manufacturing is technically more complex than filling capsules or packaging powder, but it gives us complete control over the end product.

That control starts with the raw material. Every delivery of Magnesium Bisglycinate is tested upon arrival for magnesium content, microbiological purity and heavy metals. The requirements are documented in our Product Specification Sheet, which is personally signed by founder Paul Klein Breteler for quality control. After tablet production, a second, independent analysis follows by Eurofins, an RvA-accredited laboratory.

The most recent Eurofins analysis shows how clean this product is: the cadmium content is more than twenty times below the European safety limit, lead more than one hundred and fifty times. Microbiologically, the product scores below the detection threshold. These are not just numbers on paper. It is the direct result of raw material control, in-house production and independent final testing.

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 Tablets were personally formulated by Paul. The decision to add bioflavonoids and to produce the tablets in-house rather than outsource them is characteristic of how Paul approaches product development: complete control over the end result.

Do you have questions about this product or about magnesium supplementation in general? Our team of nutrition specialists, therapist and pharmacist is here for you. Call or email us. The advice is always free and without obligation.

Product properties

• 200 mg elemental magnesium per tablet, 53% NRV
• Chelated magnesium: bound to two molecules of glycine
• With bioflavonoids: plant-based polyphenols from vegetables and fruit
• Gentle on the stomach: well tolerated, even with daily use
• Smooth coating for easy intake
• Glycine as a functional amino acid: involved in collagen, glutathione and creatine synthesis
• In-house tablet production in our FSSC 22000 certified facility in the Netherlands
• Double checked: raw material (PSS) and end product (Eurofins)
• GMO-free (EC 1830/2003) and non-irradiated (EC 1999/2)
• Free from yeast, gluten, lactose and artificial flavourings, colourings and fragrances
• Available in 60 and 180 count

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 case of pregnancy, breastfeeding (lactation), medication use and illness. This food supplement is not suitable for children up to and including 10 years of age.

Due to legal restrictions we may not disclose all details about the potential effects of this food supplement. For questions or personal advice, please contact us by phone: (+31) 070 345 0290. Or by email: info@kalahealth.eu.