Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the human body, yet the majority of adults are functionally deficient. The reason isn’t the dose printed on the bottle — it’s the form.
Chelated magnesium compounds like glycinate and L-threonate cross cellular membranes efficiently. Cheap oxides and citrates, by contrast, mostly pass through — good for occasional constipation, useless for cellular ATP production or CNS down-regulation.
What to look for
Read the label. If it says ‘magnesium’ without specifying the chelate, assume it’s oxide. Real supplementation names the bond: glycinate for sleep and muscle relaxation, L-threonate for cognitive function, malate for energy production.