Magnesium malate

What is magnesium malate?

Magnesium malate is the magnesium salt of malic acid (malate). Malic acid occurs naturally in fruit such as apples. The compound is one of the organic forms of magnesium and is usually sold as capsules or tablets with a high milligram figure.

Magnesium contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism and to a reduction of tiredness and fatigue. These statements refer to the magnesium itself, whichever partner it is bound to.

Malate, glycinate or citrate?

• Malate: bound to malic acid, often as a 1000 mg tablet or capsule.
• Glycinate: bound to glycine, neutral in taste, popular in capsule form.
• Citrate: bound to citric acid, dissolves well, often sold as powder.

Watch out for the "1000 mg" on the front: it is usually the weight of the magnesium malate, not of the pure magnesium. The amount of elemental magnesium is listed separately in the nutrition table.

Our range

NOW Foods offers Magnesium Malate as 1000 mg tablets and as capsules, and Swanson also has a 1000 mg version. OstroVit sells magnesium malate as an unflavoured powder, Skill Nutrition as capsules. Apollo's Hegemony combines malate with P5P, the active form of vitamin B6. If you prefer a liquid, there is Nature's Answer Liquid Magnesium Malate and Glycinate, a blend of two forms.

What to look for

• Elemental magnesium: compare products by the amount of magnesium per daily serving.
• Serving size: with high-strength tablets, a serving can be two or more tablets.
• Combinations: vitamin B6 (also as P5P) contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism and is a common partner.
• Format: powder can be measured precisely, tablets are compact.

Follow the dose on the label. Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied diet.

Frequently asked questions

What does "malate" mean?

Malate is the salt of malic acid. Magnesium malate is simply magnesium bound to malic acid.

Can I combine magnesium malate with other forms?

Some products already contain malate and glycinate together. Keep an eye on the total amount of magnesium from all the products you take.

Why does the tub say 1000 mg but the table shows less?

The big number is the weight of the compound. The nutrition table shows how much magnesium you actually get.