Magnesium Gold

General Questions about Magnesium

What is magnesium?

Magnesium is an essential mineral that is required for more than 300 essential metabolic reactions. Magnesium is required for cellular energy production and is a key structural component of bones.  In addition, magnesium supports nerve, brain, cardiovascular and immune health.

What are some risk factors for a magnesium deficiency?

It is estimated that around 50% of the adult population may be at risk for inadequate magnesium intake (Source). Individuals that are most at risk for magnesium deficiency include those with gastrointestinal disorders such as prolonged diarrhea, malabsorption syndromes, celiac disease or those that have had part of their small intestine removed. Some renal, endocrine, and metabolic disorders can also lead to magnesium depletion. In addition, magnesium status can also be impacted by the consumption of alcohol, drug use and some medications.

Are there any food sources of magnesium?

Magnesium is a primary component of chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants. Given this, leafy greens like spinach, swiss chard, turnip greens, and beet greens tend to be the best sources of dietary magnesium. Good sources of magnesium also include pumpkin seeds, Brazil nuts, cashews and almonds.

It is worth noting that decreases in food crop magnesium content can make it difficult to get the recommended allowance of magnesium from food alone. So, if you are relying exclusively on dietary sources of magnesium to meet the recommended daily intake, please check with your healthcare provider if a magnesium supplement is right for you.

What is the recommended daily allowance for magnesium?

The 100% daily value (%DV) for magnesium for individuals 18 years of age and older is 420 mg. This drops down to 400 mg per day during pregnancy/breastfeeding. As with any supplement, please talk to your healthcare provider prior to supplementation to ensure you are following the dosing schedule that is right for your particular health needs.

Is there an established upper toxicity limit for magnesium?

The Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) is considered to be the highest amount you can take of a nutrient without theoretical risk. The Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) of the US Institute of Medicine has set the tolerable upper intake level (UL) for magnesium at 350 mg/day. This UL is largely based on avoiding gastrointestinal disturbances which can occur when supplementing with magnesium salts.  It is important to note that adverse effects have not been observed from magnesium in food. Given this, the magnesium one consumes from food does not count towards the UL; this only applies to supplemental magnesium. Medical providers will sometimes determine that a higher amount of magnesium is necessary in cases of severe deficiency.

Is it necessary to take calcium with magnesium?

No, calcium does not have to be taken with magnesium. In fact, it is often recommended to avoid taking large amounts of both minerals at the same time as they can compete with each other for absorption. Regardless, as a matter of principle and in the interest of your health and safety, we encourage you to consult your healthcare provider prior to supplementation to determine what use, if any, is best for your individual needs.

Can magnesium supplements be taken with OTC or prescription medications?

Magnesium may interfere with the absorption of some drugs. If you are taking or planning to take an OTC or prescription medication, please consult a licensed pharmacist or your healthcare provider before beginning supplementation to minimize risk of side effects associated with potential supplement-drug interactions.

Still have questions?

• For general information about magnesium, check out the resources below—
• Magnesium Fact Sheet for Consumers — Office of Dietary Supplements
• Magnesium — Linus Pauling Institute
• Magnesium — Harvard School of Public Health
• Magnesium in Prevention and Therapy
• For specific guidance on the suitability of magnesium to support your particular health goals, please talk to your healthcare provider.

Questions about Magnesium Gold

What form of magnesium is provided in Magnesium Gold?

Magnesium Gold provides magnesium as a full-spectrum chelate. Magnesium isn't stable in its free form and needs to be bound to something to be stable, and the biggest difference among magnesium products does not come from the elemental magnesium itself (which is all the same across all products), but from what the magnesium is actually bound to. The magnesium in our product is chelated to a full-spectrum amino acid complex from USA-grown, hydrolyzed rice protein for enhanced bioavailability.

What does “elemental” mean?

The term "elemental" refers to how much of the actual element, in this case magnesium, is present per capsule or serving of the product. Each 3-capsule serving of  Magnesium Gold provides 400 mg of elemental magnesium from a 2000 mg complex consisting of magnesium and amino acids.

What is the original source of magnesium in Magnesium Gold?

The elemental magnesium in Magnesium Gold is from magnesium oxide from the Dead Sea in Israel. However, because magnesium oxide is generally believed to have poor bioavailability in the gut, the magnesium oxide is solubilized in a solvent-free, aqueous environment and chelated to USA-grown, hydrolyzed rice protein for enhanced bioavailability. 

Why chelated to an amino acid complex instead of a single amino acid molecule?

Most commercially available magnesium products feature magnesium bound to a single, large, synthetically-created amino acid molecule (e.g. magnesium glycinate). However, the magnesium in our product is chelated to the full spectrum of amino acids naturally found in hydrolyzed rice protein. As with other chelates, there is less magnesium by weight in this form as well, but the amino acid complex in Magnesium Gold may confer benefits other than what may be available with other individual mineral chelates like magnesium glycinate.

There are a couple of benefits to chelating to an amino acid complex instead of a single amino acid molecule—first, the product delivers a complete amino acid profile including 'essential' amino acids (those that must be consumed in the diet because the body is unable to produce them itself); and second, there is some scientific evidence (Mackenzie, Loo, Fei, et. al., 1996) that amino acids are taken up in short chains and not as single molecules. The process used to chelate the magnesium in our product delivers the mineral sequestered in these short chains, which supports the body's own uptake mechanism to deliver highly available mineral nutrients.

What amino acids are in Magnesium Gold?

The magnesium in our product is chelated to a full-spectrum amino acid complex that is naturally found in USA-grown, hydrolyzed rice protein. This full-spectrum amino acid complex includes aspartic acid, threonine, serine, glutamic acid, glycine, alanine, cystine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, lysine, histidine, tryptophan, arginine, and proline. The approximate amino acid content in the organic hydrolyzed rice protein that is used in our Magnesium Gold product is summarized in Table 1.

How many grams of carbohydrates are in each 3-capsule serving of Magnesium Gold?

We do not currently assay the Magnesium Gold for carbohydrate content; however, we can provide an approximate estimation of the amount of carbohydrates per 3-capsule serving of our Magnesium Gold, which is 0.2 g (or 200 mg).

For reference, the Daily Value (DV) for total carbohydrate is 300 grams (g) or 100% DV, based on a 2,000-calorie diet. So, one serving of Magnesium Gold would contribute < 0.1% of the DV of carbohydrates.

How does NutriGold ensure the purity of the ingredients used in its Magnesium Gold product?

At NutriGold, we go above and beyond what is recommended or required under current GMPs to independently verify that the raw materials used in our products as well as the finished products themselves meet industry-defining quality and purity standards. Depending on the complexity of the testing involved, including determining what needs to be tested, what methods are fit-for-purpose, and which lab is most qualified to perform the testing, we sometimes have results from as many as 4 or 5 different independent, ISO-certified labs for each product. We take these results from third-party labs and summarize them in lot-specific Certificates of Analysis that are  freely available in the spirit of authentic transparency on the product pages on our website so consumers can make informed purchasing decisions.

What assurance can you provide that the amount of magnesium listed on the label (400 mg) is actually in the product?

All of our products are verified by independent third-party labs to meet identity, purity, and potency label claims. We take these results from third-party labs and summarize them in lot-specific Certificates of Analysis (C of A) that are  freely available in the spirit of authentic transparency on the product pages on our website so consumers can make informed purchasing decisions. The C of A provides assurance that the claims made on the label accurately reflect the contents of the product inside the bottle. If interested, more information on our our commitment to independent, third party quality testing can be found at this link - https://nutrigold.com/pages/accountability 

Is Magnesium Gold easy to digest and gentle on my stomach (non-laxative)?

The magnesium in our product is chelated to hydrolyzed rice protein for enhanced bioavailability. Chelated magnesium tends to be a gentler form than magnesium citrate or oxide and is less likely to cause a laxative effect. However, high doses of magnesium, regardless of what form the magnesium is in, may produce a laxative effect in some individuals. Consistent with our guiding principle to ‘do no harm’ and in the interest of your health and safety, we ask that you discuss any concerns you may have regarding the suitability of our products for your particular health needs with your healthcare provider prior to supplementation.

What is the best time of day to take Magnesium Gold?

Many customers often take magnesium in the evening hours to support muscle relaxation and restful sleep.  However, for whole body health, it may be best to space supplemental magnesium throughout the day for optimal absorption.  Regardless, as a matter of principle and in the interest of your health and safety, we encourage you to consult your healthcare provider prior to supplementation to determine what use is best for your individual needs.

Can I break apart the capsule and add the contents to liquid/food to consume?

All of our products are formulated to be taken as capsules and our purity and potency claims are based on the product being taken as recommended. We generally do not recommend breaking apart the capsules because it can introduce contaminants or otherwise compromise product potency and effectiveness.

Is Magnesium Gold suitable for children (under 18 years of age)?

Magnesium Gold is formulated for individuals over 18 years. Because children are considered a vulnerable population, we regret we cannot make any recommendations regarding the use of our products by or for children under the age of 18. We ask that you talk to your pediatrician or family practitioner about whether or not Magnesium Gold is suitable and safe for your child’s particular healthcare needs prior to supplementation.

Questions about capsule shell

What is in the capsules used by NutriGold to encapsulate its products?

Depending on the formulation, NutriGold products are encapsulated using cellulose, pullulan, organic pullulan, or soft gel capsules. Information regarding the composition of the capsule shell is provided in the “Informed Purchasing Decision Checklist” and is accurate to the best of our knowledge based on information available in the public domain as well as supply-chain documentation provided by the capsule and soft gel manufacturers/vendors.

Are any processing aids used in the production of the empty vegetarian capsule?

Yes. Minor amounts (~ 3%) of processing aids are used in the production of the empty vegetarian (cellulose) capsule shell. The processing aids used in the manufacturing of the capsule shell have been identified as proprietary by the capsule manufacturer and protected by intellectual property and confidentiality agreements between the capsule manufacturer/vendor and NutriGold. As such, we are legally bound to maintain this information strictly confidential and regret that we cannot provide this information to consumers. We can, however, assure you that the processing aids are non-toxic, generally recognized as safe (GRAS), compliant with both the United States Pharmacopoeia and European Pharmacopoeia, and do not pose an allergen risk.  

Are the processing aids used in the production of the empty capsule shells present in the finished product?

Processing aids that are used in the production of the capsule shell may be present in the finished empty capsule shell. We regret we cannot provide precise information on the type of processing aid(s) or the approximate residual amount of the processing aid(s) in the finished capsule shell because it would require us to divulge information proprietary to the capsule manufacturer. We can, however, assure you that the processing aids used in the production of the empty capsule shell are non-toxic, generally recognized as safe (GRAS), compliant with both the United States Pharmacopoeia and European Pharmacopoeia, and do not pose an allergen risk.

I am concerned about a possible allergy to the processing aid(s) used in the production of the capsule shells. How can I find out what processing aids are used so I can determine whether the product is safe for me to take?

Although we make every effort to provide as much information as we can about the ingredients in our products to help consumers make educated purchasing decisions, there may be times when we cannot provide the requested information or clarification because it is proprietary to the manufacturer, as in the case of the processing aids. Disclosing protected information to unauthorized individuals, within and outside our organization, is not just unethical, but also unlawful. If you are concerned about a potential allergy to the processing aid(s) that may have been used in the production of the capsule shell, we encourage you to discuss your concerns with your healthcare provider prior to making a purchasing decision. 

Why does NutriGold® sometimes use soft gelatin capsules to encapsulate its products?

At NutriGold®, we are committed to offering sustainable products using non-GMO, organic, and/or vegan ingredients, and this includes the capsule shell we use to encapsulate those ingredients. In fact, many of our products are certified vegan by Vegan Action®, helping provide unbiased assurance that the product (and the ingredients it contains) comply with both dietary and ethical vegan standards. However, there are some ingredients (e.g. fish oil, ubiquinol, astaxanthin) that are more sensitive to oxygen and can, consequently, oxidize or degrade. For ingredients like these, bovine gelatin soft gelatin capsule shells offer better protection and help ensure finished product integrity until the end of the shelf-life of the product. That being said, we are hopeful that growing consumer awareness of and demand for vegan options will continue to drive innovation in dietary supplement delivery systems and we are committed to replacing the gelatin soft gels in our products with a clean-label, vegan capsule shell that offers the same protection from the elements as the gelatin capsule when such an option becomes available.

Questions about the ‘Best By’ date and ‘Consume by’ recommendation

What does the “Best by” date printed on the bottom of the bottle mean?

The “Best By” date printed on the bottle is the date until which a product will meet label claims as long as the product is sealed or, once opened, stored and handled as recommended on the product label.

Is the product safe to take after the “Best by” date printed on the bottle?

As long as the product is stored and handled under conditions that will not cause it to become contaminated, the product should be safe to take past the “Best By” date printed on the bottom of the bottle. However, we do not guarantee that the product will meet stated label claims past the “Best By” date printed on the bottle.

Why does the product I purchased have a recommendation on the label to consume the product within a certain number of days after opening the bottle?

The “consume by” recommendation is included on products that are formulated using ingredients that are sensitive to environmental factors (e.g. heat, light, humidity). Although exposure to these environmental factors does not adversely impact or compromise product safety, it can degrade the potency of these eco-sensitive ingredients and, consequently, make the product less effective. So, to ensure that you get the most out of products that are made using eco-sensitive ingredients, please consume the product within the timeframe recommended on the label.

What is the difference between the “Best by” date and the “Consume by” recommendation on your products?

The “Best By” date printed on the bottle is the date until which a product will meet label claims as long as the product is sealed or, once opened, stored and handled as recommended on the product label.

The “Consume by” recommendation is included only on products that are formulated using ingredients that are sensitive to environmental factors (e.g. heat, light, humidity). Although exposure to these environmental factors does not adversely impact or compromise product safety, it can degrade the potency of these eco-sensitive ingredients and, consequently, make the product less effective. So, to ensure that you get the most out of products that are made using eco-sensitive ingredients, it is important to consume the product within the timeframe recommended on the label.

If the product I purchased contains ingredients that can degrade once the bottle is opened, how can I be confident that I am still getting the declared amounts of the nutrients on the label?

To ensure that our products provide the nutrients in the amounts declared on the label, we intentionally include higher amounts of eco-sensitive ingredients than what is declared on the label to compensate for degradation that may occur once the bottle is opened. The amount of an ingredient that is added above what is declared on the label is referred to as an intentional “overage” and it is added for the precise purpose of compensating for possible potency degradation during routine product storage and handling. That being said, we would like to assure you that we take great care to ensure that the amount of the overage does not exceed established tolerable upper limits and there is no risk of toxicity when the product is taken as directed.

Because there are practical and regulatory considerations on how much of an overage we can include in our different formulations, the most effective option we have available to ensure that consumers get the most out of our products is to provide the “consume by” guidance on products that contain eco-sensitive ingredients. You can be confident that you are getting the declared amounts of the nutrients as long as you store and consume the product within the recommended time frame.

Why do you recommend consuming the product within a certain number of days after opening the bottle even though the “Best by” date is months (or years) away?

NutriGold products are made with natural ingredients and without chemical preservatives. While the vast majority of ingredients we use in our products are stable and remain potent even after the product is opened, there are some ingredients that are particularly sensitive to environmental factors and must be handled with care from source to shelf, and beyond.

If the product you purchased includes a recommendation to finish the product within a prescribed time, it is important that you follow this guidance (unless it conflicts with instructions from your healthcare provider), so you can enjoy the health benefits that can only be realized when the product is taken consistently as recommended.

Will the product still provide benefits past the “consume by” recommendation on the bottle?

If the product you purchased includes a recommendation to finish the product within a prescribed time, it is important that you follow this guidance so you can enjoy the health benefits that can only be realized when the product is taken consistently as recommended. Although not consuming the product within the recommended time frame once the bottle is opened will not cause the product to “spoil” or become “unsafe,” the potency of some of the more eco-sensitive ingredients may start to degrade and this can diminish the product’s potential to support your health goals.

What is the best way to store NutriGold products?

NutriGold products are made with natural ingredients and without the use of any chemical stabilizers or preservatives. So, the best way to store them is in their original container away from direct sunlight and humidity. It is not recommended to empty the capsules or soft gels from their original container and store them in pill boxes or plastic bags because it could not only cause some of the more eco-sensitive ingredients to lose potency, but may also increase the risk of cross-contamination with other products or environmental pathogens.

Follow these simple guidelines to get the most out of NutriGold supplements —