Hi Loops,
I think you make some very good points above!!! Here are my comments on the individual items:
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I'm not sold on that 4% of magnesium oxide is absorbed crap
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I read about this in some book or other and eventually even found the study the claim is based on. It is based on ONE study alone, but it gets quoted all over the internet as if it was gospel.
The main thing about magnesium absorption that I have read is that absorption levels will differ from person to person - even if they are taking the exact same thing - depending on how much that individual person needs at the time of taking the magnesium. If one person's levels are already good, then they will absorb less; if the next person is currently deficient, their body will take more. So, you're absolutely right: to quote this 4% figure as if it was carved in stone and true for every single person on the planet at all times is pure nonsense.
And, as far as I can tell, absorption of minerals etc depends on so many things (how strong your stomach acid is, for example) that it is impossible to say how well one person will absorb something that works for
you.
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- I have some mag oxide pills and I feel a LOT different after taking them.
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You're lucky!!! I used to take them - thinking I was getting a better dosage because it said "400mg" on the packaging - but they never really did much for me. But they were really really cheap Mg oxide tablets, so maybe it was just very poor quality stuff.
However, I did get some chelated Mg oxide at some point and that worked a lot better than my cheapo drugstore stuff. So maybe the carrier of the Mg is just as important as the kind of Mg that is in the tablet???
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I think it depends on the person.
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Absolutely.
Hutchinson used to recommend Mg malate, so I bought some and tried them out, but they didn't seem to make much difference to my symptoms at all. I then tried Mg taurate, but the tablets were huge and barely swallowable, even with lots of water, plus, they were the most expensive kind of magnesium. It was only when I tried the chelated Mg glycinate made according to the patented "Albion" chelation process that I really noticed some difference. This is why I recommend the Mg glycinate, but I really should remember to mention that other kinds seem to work well for other people and that my personal choice is, well, exactly that: my personal choice and preference based on - I assume - my individual chemistry.
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Sure - the glycinate forms are good too, but I do not think the oxide is worthless.
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I am really glad you mentioned this! I shall stop quoting the "4% absorption rate thing" as if it was gospel. I am a bit ashamed that I have done so, as I really should have known better.
amanda
I also do not buy into the 'no calcium' thing. Personally I managed to dose myself into calcium deficiency by taking too much magnesium! I developed severe arrhythmia which cleared up upon reintroducing calcium tablets alongside the magnesium. That was after reading George Eby's site on magnesium and I was convinced I shouldn't take any calcium or the magnesium wouldn't work! People there is a balance between these minerals that must be resptected. That means, that for SOME people taking only magnesium is wise, but for others (like me) - they need both Mg and Ca to feel better. Unfortunately the only way to know is to experiment yourself.
Be careful with this stuff - it is important to take but there is a balance that must be maintained with minerals.