Bioavailability and Tolerability of Marine-Sourced Magnesium and Calcium

It is generally accepted that mineral deficiencies, including magnesium and calcium, are prevalent worldwide. Dietary supplements may be an effective way to address such deficiencies. However, limited solubility of minerals in the digestive system may hinder effective dissolution and absorption, leading to mineral deficiencies as well as adverse gastrointestinal conditions such as diarrhea. Seawater is considered a rich source of bioactive magnesium, calcium, and other 72 trace minerals. In the study, two different marine-derived multi-mineral products were examined as potential dietary supplements: Aquamin-Mg, derived from seawater, rich in magnesium (12%); and Aquamin F, derived from algae, rich in calcium (32%). Both products contain over 72 minerals, characteristic of their marine origin.

The study included two experiments: The first experiment used the INFOGEST method to evaluate and compare the solubility of Aquamin-Mg, commercially available magnesium bisglycinate, and pure magnesium bisglycinate (PrizMAG) during in vitro digestion. Results showed that Aquamin-Mg exhibited higher solubility than other magnesium sources during the gastrointestinal phase, especially when taken with food. The second experiment was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in a small group of healthy elderly people designed to evaluate the tolerability of an Aquamin-Mg/Aquamin-F combination supplement over 12 weeks. Results showed that this combination supplement was well tolerated with no major adverse events reported, highlighting its potential as a solution for mineral deficiencies.