Minerals

Mineral supplements in this category are primarily preparations with magnesium, alongside potassium, chromium, and iodine. They come in capsules and drops, with one form of the element or several at once, alone or with vitamin B6. They differ in chemical form, the amount of the element per serving, and how many capsules make up that serving.

Mineral supplements: capsules or drops

Capsules have a pre-measured serving. In Progress Labs and Navigator preparations, the coating is plant-based, made from hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. For other brands, check the packaging if you avoid gelatin.

Aura Care drops are measured with a pipette and dissolved in water or another beverage. Chromium and iodine are in 15 ml bottles, and a serving is 10 drops. Magnesium in drops comes in a 50 ml bottle with a serving of 1.5 ml, which is about 40 drops.

Chemical form of the element

The same element occurs in different compounds, and these distinguish the preparations. The form is listed in the ingredient list next to the name of the element:

• magnesium as diglycinate, i.e. chelate, in Chelate Magnesium + B6 Forte Aura Care
• magnesium as citrate in Navigator Magnesium and in the Magnesium Potassium Vitamin B6 preparation
• sea magnesium Simag® in Magnesium Simag® MONO, and in Body Magnesium+ together with citrate and malate
• magnesium as magnesium chloride hexahydrate in Aura Care Magnesium drops
• chromium as picolinate in Chromium MONO and in Aura Care Chromium drops
• potassium as citrate in Potassium Citrate 350 mg
• iodine in four compounds, iodides and iodates, in Aura Care Iodine drops

The differences between forms of magnesium are described separately in the text forms of magnesium and how to choose the right one.

Molecular weight vs amount of the element

The label often shows two numbers. In Aura Care Magnesium drops, a serving contains 400 mg of magnesium chloride hexahydrate, of which 48 mg is magnesium. In Chelate Magnesium + B6 Forte, 1100 mg of diglycinate provides 205 mg of magnesium, and in the Potassium Citrate capsule, 972 mg of citrate equals 350 mg of potassium.

Preparations are compared based on the amount of the element itself, as this relates to the percentage of the nutrient reference value, i.e. NRV. The number in the product name is not always that value. Navigator Magnesium has 400 mg in the name, while the composition table states 384 mg of magnesium per daily serving.

Daily serving and number of capsules

A daily serving does not always mean one capsule. In Navigator Magnesium, it is six capsules in two doses of three, in Magnesium Simag® MONO two, and in Body Magnesium+ and Chromium MONO one. Magnesium Potassium Vitamin B6 allows you to choose a serving from one to three capsules daily.

The serving size determines how long the package lasts. Body Magnesium+ has 60 capsules for 60 days, Chromium MONO 90 capsules for 90 days, and Magnesium Simag® MONO 90 capsules for 45 days. The Navigator Magnesium package contains 180 capsules, which is 30 daily servings.

What else to check on the label

Besides the form and amount of the element, it is worth reading a few items:

• additives, such as vitamin B6 and its form: P-5-P or pyridoxine hydrochloride
• the capsule coating and declarations: vegan, gluten-free, free from magnesium stearate
• the recommended time of intake and whether the manufacturer advises against combining the preparation with coffee, tea, or calcium
• the number of capsules or drops in the package and in the daily serving

More about reading labels is discussed in the text how to read a dietary supplement label, and you can find other preparations in the category Supplements.

Frequently asked questions

What does the NRV percentage on the label mean?

NRV is the nutrient reference value, i.e. the daily amount of an ingredient taken as a reference point on food labels. The percentage indicates what part of it is provided by the daily serving of the preparation. For minerals, it refers to the amount of the element, not the molecular weight. For example, in Chelate Magnesium + B6 Forte, 1100 mg of diglycinate provides 205 mg of magnesium.

What is the difference between magnesium in drops and magnesium in capsules?

The form of administration and often the chemical form. Aura Care Magnesium drops are an aqueous solution of magnesium chloride hexahydrate with vitamin B6, which you dissolve in a beverage. In capsules, you will find citrate, diglycinate, malate, or sea magnesium Simag®. In Aura Care Magnesium drops, a serving is 1.5 ml, which is about 40 drops, while capsules have a pre-measured serving.

How many drops is one serving?

In Aura Care Chromium and Aura Care Iodine drops, a serving is 10 drops, and the 15 ml bottle according to the manufacturer contains about 400 drops. In Aura Care Magnesium drops, a serving is 1.5 ml, which is about 40 drops. Magnesium has a larger bottle, 50 ml, and drops are measured with a pipette and dissolved in water or another beverage.

Why does the number in the name differ from the composition table?

Because the name can be a shorthand, and the table is binding. With mineral compounds, the table often separately lists the mass of the salt and the amount of the element itself. For comparisons, take the amount of the element in the daily serving and the percentage of NRV. Navigator Magnesium has 400 mg in the name, while the table states 384 mg of magnesium in the daily serving.

Are the capsules vegan?

Progress Labs preparations have a plant-based Vcaps coating and a vegan declaration, while Navigator Magnesium has a vegetarian capsule made from HPMC. The plant-based coating from HPMC, i.e. hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, means the capsule is gelatin-free, which is important for a plant-based diet. For others, check the declarations on the packaging, as manufacturers provide them differently.