Buying guide

Magnesium citrate labels: the figures worth comparing

Elemental content, hydration state and portion size: the parts of a magnesium citrate label that change a comparison.

4 min read6 sections90 capsules

Citrate is the carrier, magnesium is the nutrient

Magnesium citrate is magnesium combined with citric acid. The citrate part has weight of its own, so the milligrams of magnesium citrate in a capsule are always higher than the milligrams of magnesium.

Any comparison built on the compound weight compares raw materials. The nutrient panel is where the magnesium itself is declared.

Anhydrous or hydrated changes the arithmetic

Magnesium citrate is supplied either anhydrous or with water held in the crystal. Water adds to the weight of the raw material while contributing no magnesium.

That is why two ingredients lists can quote the same magnesium citrate figure and still declare different elemental amounts in the panel. The panel figure has already accounted for it.

Reading the NRV column

The nutrient reference value is one fixed number per nutrient, laid down in law, and the percentage on the pack reports the portion against it.

Because it is calculated from the elemental amount, the NRV percentage is the quickest way to put a citrate label and a glycinate label on the same footing.

Ninety capsules, portion on the label

A capsule count tells you how many units are in the bottle. It does not tell you how many portions the bottle holds.

Divide the price by portions, not by capsules, and read the portion from the label before doing that sum.

Side by side with glycinate

Format differences show up in capsule size and in how many capsules make a portion, not in the nutrient itself.

Compare the elemental magnesium row, label to label.
Note the compound named in each ingredients list so you know what you are buying.
Check whether the panel is stated per capsule or per portion before reading the numbers across.