EFSA Journal (Dec 2018)

Magnesium citrate malate as a source of magnesium added for nutritional purposes to food supplements

  • EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA),
  • Dominique Turck,
  • Jacqueline Castenmiller,
  • Stefaan De Henauw,
  • Karen Ildico Hirsch‐Ernst,
  • John Kearney,
  • Helle Katrine Knutsen,
  • Alexandre Maciuk,
  • Inge Mangelsdorf,
  • Harry J McArdle,
  • Androniki Naska,
  • Carmen Pelaez,
  • Kristina Pentieva,
  • Alfonso Siani,
  • Frank Thies,
  • Sophia Tsabouri,
  • Marco Vinceti,
  • Tara Dean,
  • Karl‐Heinz Engel,
  • Marina Heinonen,
  • Rosangela Marchelli,
  • Monika Neuhäuser‐Berthold,
  • Morten Poulsen,
  • Annette Pöting,
  • Yolanda Sanz,
  • Josef Rudolf Schlatter,
  • Andrea Germini,
  • Henk van Loveren

DOI
https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5484
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16, no. 12
pp. n/a – n/a

Abstract

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Abstract The present scientific opinion deals with the assessment of the bioavailability of magnesium, from the proposed nutrient source, magnesium citrate malate (MgCM), when added for nutritional purposes to food supplements. MgCM is a mixed salt consisting of magnesium cations and citrate and malate anions, and with a magnesium content of 12–15%. MgCM is proposed to be used in food supplements that are intended to provide up to 300–540 mg/day magnesium. The data provided demonstrate that the production process results in batches of MgCM that comply with the product specifications and that the product is stable throughout its proposed shelf life. The human studies provided demonstrate that magnesium from MgCM is bioavailable. However, the extent of its bioavailability per se or compared to other magnesium sources cannot be established due to the lack of an appropriate magnesium source as a comparator in the studies provided or relevant kinetic data for magnesium. One publication provided in the dossier reported that supplementation with MgCM decreases calcium absorption, but this finding was not supported by publications on different magnesium salts and therefore the Panel could not draw conclusions from this finding. The Panel concludes that MgCM is a source from which magnesium is bioavailable, but the extent of its bioavailability cannot be established. The Panel notes that at the proposed maximum use levels of MgCM, the existing tolerable upper intake level for magnesium in nutritional supplements, water, or added to food and beverages (250 mg/day) is exceeded.

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