Magnesium Oxide and Nutraceuticals

Magnesium Oxide and Nutraceuticals

Nutraceuticals are food-derived products that help prevent and treat certain diseases. According to a November 2022 article in Nutrients, a journal of human nutrition, the word nutraceutical is a combination of “nutrition” and “pharmaceutical.” The term was first coined in 1989, as the science of nutrition has advanced over the last decades. The nutraceutical market is estimated to be $340 billion in 2024 and has sustained a compounded annual growth rate of 7.2% since 2016.

Magnesium is an essential mineral for the human body. The Cleveland Clinic states:

“More than 300 essential processes within your body rely on magnesium. It’s a heavy-hitter list that includes heart rhythm, muscle contractions, blood pressure control, bone health, and creating energy.”

A healthy diet can meet the body’s nutritional needs for magnesium. According to the USDA, foods that naturally contain magnesium include:

• Green Leafy Vegetables such as spinach, kale, and collard greens
• Fruits such as bananas and avocados
• Legumes like black, lima, navy, pinto, garbanzo beans and black-eyed peas
• Peanut Butter and other nuts and seeds
• Whole Grains

An article in the journal Open Heart states that “since 1940, there has been a tremendous decline in the micronutrient density of foods” that can be attributed to farming practices. Additionally, magnesium requirements in the body are now higher than a century ago due to increased consumption of vitamin D and phosphorus. Processed foods, which are common in the Western diet, are often low in magnesium. The same article states that over ¼ of children do not have adequate intakes of magnesium and that magnesium deficiency is found in 84% of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. The article states that even when blood serum levels of magnesium are normal, the body may still be low in magnesium because 90% of the body’s 25 grams of magnesium is found in muscles and bones.

The Mayo Clinic states that the Recommended Dietary Allowances of magnesium very by sex and age, however for an adult female, 280-300 mg is recommended. Magnesium has been included in multivitamins for many years, however the awareness of magnesium deficiency is growing, as well as the demand for magnesium supplements. An article published by the Food Institute states “magnesium outpaces most of the competition in terms of new adoption among consumers”. The magnesium supplement market is currently at $ 1.6 billion per year, growing at 6.3% compounded annual growth.

Magnesium oxide, in particular, is often chosen in supplements because it has the greatest elemental amount of magnesium (60%) compared to the other common forms. This is particularly important in multivitamins, where one small tablet must include many different vitamins and minerals.

Magnesium is a very important nutraceutical ingredient, which is deficient in many diets in the Western world. Magnesium oxide is an important form of magnesium in many of the most common supplements available in the market. Consumers are becoming more and more aware of issues related to magnesium deficiency and therefore demand for magnesium supplements has been increasing strongly.