What is Magnesium Gluconate?
At some point in your life, you may have had a period where you take food supplements; maybe because you have a deficiency in a certain vitamin or mineral or just maybe because you are not eating the right kind of foods in your meals. Remember the “Go, Grow, and Glow” foods we learned at kindergarten?
One of the minerals that we need in our bodies is magnesium. It is an alkaline earth metal located at atomic number 12 in the periodic table of elements. There are several ways we can get magnesium in our bodies, and one of them is through magnesium gluconate liquid or tablet form.
Magnesium gluconate (MgC12H22O14) is a supplementary medicine made from a mix of magnesium and gluconic acid. It is commonly used as a magnesium supplement for those with deficiencies with the said mineral.
Magnesium gluconate vs magnesium oxide
There are several types of magnesium supplements and a lot of people wonder which one they should take. Let us compare and contrast two types, magnesium gluconate and magnesium oxide. Compared to the former, magnesium oxide contains more magnesium in milligrams. The oxide salt of magnesium has more side effects compared to gluconate.
Benefits of magnesium gluconate
In general, magnesium’s benefit to our body is in aiding our body’s structure and daily functions. It is important for the conversion of food into energy, technically called energy metabolism, and for the synthesis of protein. It helps our heart by normalizing our blood pressure and keeping its steady rhythm. Magnesium gluconate also strengthens our immune system and keeps our blood sugar levels normal. It also helps keep our bones strong and it has been proven to lower bad cholesterol and raise levels of good cholesterol. According to one study by the Chinese, magnesium gluconate is valuable in the prevention of hypertension induced by pregnancy. It was reported that 3 grams of oral magnesium gluconate everyday considerably reduced the risk of hypertension in pregnant women.
Examples of magnesium gluconate side effects
Magnesium supplements and all of its salts are reported to give its patients intestinal problems like diarrhea and stomach pains. However, there are no fatal casualties reported so this side effect is minimal. It is recommended to eat a full meal first before oral intake of magnesium gluconate. Another side effect of this drug is allergic reaction. Although rare, there have been reported cases of severe allergic reaction to the drug. Some reports said it was because of wrong magnesium gluconate dosage, taking it more than the prescribed amount. In order to prevent this kind of occurrence, please consult your doctor first and tell every allergic reaction you had in the past.
Final words
Tablet or liquid magnesium gluconate supplements are one cheap source of magnesium. You can ask your local pharmacies for more info about it and/or search online stores for the prices. Remember to consult a doctor first before trying to take anything; don’t ever compromise your health.
Check out our magnesium glycinate as a food supplement post for more information on which food to eat