Table 2.

Magnesium bioavailability in randomised clinical trials comparing inorganic and organic salts in healthy volunteers (n = number). DB: double-blind; P: parallel; CrO: cross-over.

Authors	n	Type of Study	Inorganic Mg Salts	Organic Mg Salts	Combination of Mg Salts	Conclusions
[113]	17	P	Mg oxide (60% Mg element: 15 mmol)	Mg citrate (16% Mg element: 4 mmol)	/	Mg citrate is more soluble than Mg Oxide in water (55% vs. 0.8%, p < 0.05), less ph-dependent with lesser ionic concentrations.
[114]	46	DBP	Mg oxide (60% Mg element: 180 mg)	Mg citrate (16% Mg element: 48 mg); Mg amino-acid chelate: 300 mg (% Mg element: ND)	/	Mg citrate then amino-acid chelate are more bioavailable than Mg oxide (p < 0.02).
[115]	10	DBCrO	Mg oxide (60% Mg element: 210 mg)/Mg oxide with a sucrester matrix (210 mg)	Mg citrate (16% mg element: 56 mg); Mg bisglycinate (20% Mg element: 70 mg)	/	Mg oxide with a sucrester matrix has a higher Mg bioavailability (p < 0.05).
[117]	20	DBCrO	Mg oxide (60% Mg element: 241.3, 300, 400, 450, 500 mg); Mg carbonate (40% Mg element: 100 mg); Mg chloride (12% Mg element: 71.5 mg)	Mg citrate (16% Mg element: 19 mg; 100 and 200 mg)	Mg oxide (60% Mg element: 149 mg) + glycerophosphate (12.37% Mg element: 47 mg); Mg citrate (16% Mg element) + Mg bis hydrogen-L-glutamate (Mg element: ND): 40 mg; Mg orotate dihydrate: 32.8 mg (% mg element: ND); Mg glycinate lysinate chelate (20% Mg element: 100 mg)	Higher bioavailability when Mg oxide is combined (p < 0.005)
[116]	20	CrO	Mg chloride with a novel matrix: 100 mg Mg element) vs. Mg carbonate (3 × 100 mg Mg element)	/	/	Mg chloride with a novel matrix has a better bioavailability