9 best magnesium preparations
In the free market, or in the OTC, there are many different multivitamins and mineral supplements that contain magnesium in the form of various compounds. What is magnesium for? What periods of life require its increased consumption? What drugs are sold in pharmacies, are the best in balance, digestibility and price? It is to these questions that the current rating of non-prescription magnesium preparations answers. All prices are given for the period of spring 2024 for pharmacies of all forms of ownership in the Russian Federation. But we should start with the biological role of this element in order to know the reasons for its deficiency.
If we “scrape the bottom of the barrel” of our body properly, then the pure magnesium in each of us will be no more than 25 to 26 grams. However, this amount is more than enough to ensure the work of many millions of enzyme molecules, and there are more than 300 different types. Magnesium in ionized and bound form plays an important role in maintaining water-salt and electrolyte balance, is involved in the transport of molecules through the membrane. The ions of this metal are necessary for maintaining the physiological muscle tone, including the smooth muscles of the vessels and internal organs, which are innervated by the autonomic nervous system. Magnesium is able to induce inhibition processes in the central nervous system, is considered an anti-stress factor.
Approximately one in three people is deficient in magnesium due to its lack of food. The most common cause of the nutritional deficiency of this substance is the use of agricultural fertilizers, and the leaching of magnesium from the soil. As a result, in plant crops, cereals and vegetables, an element deficiency occurs. The second reason is prolonged heat treatment, destroying the most digestible organic compounds of magnesium.
About the reasons for the shortage and daily needs
If for a healthy adult, mild magnesium deficiency is not a critical condition, then for patients with epilepsy and convulsive syndromes, severe atherosclerosis and diabetes, with arterial hypertension and osteoporosis, this metal deficiency can cause severe complications. During the period of breastfeeding and pregnancy, an increased consumption of magnesium is required, but this is normal. In the same way, a lot of magnesium is spent in childhood and adolescence, due to the intensive growth and maturation of the body, activation of the work of enzyme systems.
Large consumption of magnesium occurs in athletes, persons engaged in heavy muscular labor. Magnesium is eliminated with sweat, and therefore for people who frequent steam rooms and saunas, it is necessary to fill the deficit with greater intensity. Various emotional loads, insomnia, and numerous traveling, leading to the jet-lag phenomenon, when a person has been outside his time zone for quite a long time, also lead to a lack of this element.
Chronic magnesium deficiency occurs in the elderly.In this case, a low concentration of this element in the blood leads to a high level of calcium, and this increases blood clotting, and leads to an excessive thrombosis process.
Finally, diuretics, alcoholic drinks, frequent intake of coffee can also lead to periodic washing out of magnesium from the body. With its deficiency most often in mild cases, insomnia, anxiety, fatigue. In severe hypomagnesemia, an increased propensity for seizures occurs.
What is the daily need for this metal? On average, 400 to 800 mg per day. In the event that there is a deficit (and this is easy to verify using laboratory diagnostic methods), you must additionally add up to 30 mg of magnesium per kilogram of body weight daily. It is desirable that it is ingested in combination with pyridoxine, or pyridoxal phosphate. This is vitamin B6, and it improves stress resistance. Since low stress tolerance contributes to magnesium deficiency, this co-administration of magnesium and vitamin B6 is considered beneficial.
Top Magnesium Drug Rankings
| Nomination | a place | Name of product | price |
| Best Magnesium Citrate | 1 | Magne Express | 535 ₽ |
| 2 | Magnelis B6 Forte | 468 ₽ | |
| 3 | Magnesium Chelate Evalar | 933 ₽ | |
| Best Asparaginate Magnesium | 1 | Panangin, Panangin Forte | 343 ₽ |
| 2 | Aspark | 43 ₽ | |
| best magnesium lactate | 1 | Magnesium Complivite | 232 ₽ |
| 2 | Magne B6 | 476 ₽ | |
| 3 | Magnelis B6 | 302 ₽ | |
| 4 | Magnesium Orotate: Magnerot (Magnemax) | 633 ₽ |
Magnesium preparations
Currently, there are many modern magnesium-containing drugs that can reduce the unpleasant symptoms of hypomagnesemia, and replenish its physiological reserves. But not all drugs are equally well absorbed and tolerated. In pharmacies there are compounds of magnesium ions with organic acids, and with inorganic.
Examples of organic magnesium compounds include lactate, orotate, asparaginate, malate, and magnesium citrate. Under these names are hidden radicals of organic acids, acting in the form of anions - negatively charged parts in the whole electroneutral molecule. Accordingly, we are talking about compounds of magnesium ions with lactic acid (lactate), orotic acid (orotate), amino amber (aspartic), malic (malate) and citric (citrate). All these compounds are popular, are part of many drugs and dietary supplements, and will be described below.
There are inorganic compounds that are presented in the form of magnesium sulfate, or the usual magnesia sulphate, as well as in the form of magnesium oxide. The distinctive quality of these inorganic substances is their inability to replenish magnesium deficiency. The fact is that their bioavailability, that is, the body's absorption in a natural way, through the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, is very low. Therefore, magnesia, or magnesium sulfate, perfectly fights against constipation, and can also be administered intravenously in an emergency. It cannot be used as a biological additive for long-term replenishment of the deficit.
Magnesium oxide is exactly the same situation. In some cases, drugs in which oxide is included are prescribed for constipation, but are not dietary supplements. Consider the most active, popular and safe preparations containing magnesium.
Best magnesium citrate
Open the list of drugs products containing magnesium citrate, or the combination of magnesium with citric acid. Both magnesium and citric acid are absorbed in the body because it takes part in the Krebs cycle, or the tricarboxylic acid cycle. That is why citrate, which is taken in moderation in order to prevent the deficiency of this element, simultaneously activates biological oxidation and cellular respiration. The bioavailability of all magnesium citrate preparations is quite high, they are highly effective, and beneficial to health.
Magne Express
Rating: 4.9
Magne Express is a compound of magnesium citrate with vitamin B6. This combination is considered to be mutually beneficial, and enhancing the effect of both components. Magne Express is shown not only for the correction of mild deficiency, but also as a preventive measure, as a biologically active food supplement.
It is known that the main source of magnesium in food is nuts, cereals, various seeds, halvah and green vegetables. Therefore, in the event that there is a shortage of these foods, or their culinary processing involves prolonged thermal effects, then magnesium deficiency may occur. Magne Express is available in sachets. Inside each sachet there are special granules for sucking.
Take this drug should be one sachet twice a day, and dissolve - with meals. Do not need to wash them down with water. The average course duration is about 1 month. These granules have a sweet and sour taste, and resemble the aroma of tropical fruits. Magnes Express is manufactured by Hermes, an Austrian pharmaceutical company, and the average cost per pack of 20 sachets is 520 rubles.
Advantages and disadvantages
Despite the fact that the bioavailability of magnesium citrate is high, this tool is recommended as a dietary supplement, but it should not be compensated for by the developed hypomagnesemia. For this, there are special preparations, for example, the Magne B6 ampullated preparation, which is magnesium lactate, and is described below. Therefore, Magne Express is undesirable to use during pregnancy and lactation, with a serious form of renal failure, as well as if the patient is taking levodopa preparations for the treatment of parkinsonism. The relative disadvantage is the rather high price: the Magne Express monthly admission course will cost the patient approximately 1000 rubles.
Magnelis B6 Forte
Rating: 4.8
Magnelis B6 Forte is a classic compound of magnesium citrate and pyridoxine hydrochloride, or vitamin B6. Each tablet contains 618 mg of magnesium citrate, which is equivalent to 100 milligrams of the ionized form of the pure metal. The drug is produced in tablets, there are 60 pieces in a package.
Magtelis B6 Forte has been shown to treat deficiency of this element, both isolated and associated with other conditions, such as hypovitaminosis, and nutritional deficiency has been diagnosed. The clinical signs for which this drug is prescribed can be irritability, stomach and intestinal spasms, increased heart rate, paresthesias, and crawling in muscles, unpleasant pains in them, and various muscle spasms.
Magelis B6 Forte is usually applied from 3 to 4 tablets per day, depending on the severity of magnesium deficiency, with meals. The minimum dosage is 2 tablets per day. The standard course of admission is one month. Magtelis B6 Forte is produced by a domestic manufacturer - Pharmstandard Company at the facilities of Tomsk Chemical Factory. The average cost per pack of 60 tablets is 550 rubles. Depending on the dosage - it can be 10 days of administration or a whole monthly course, if you take 2 tablets daily.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantage of this drug will be the ability to compensate for the lack of magnesium, but, like all other drugs containing magnesium, there are contraindications. This is a serious form of chronic renal failure, again taking levodopa, as well as age up to 12 years. This fact is associated with a lack of research, and therefore, if a child is diagnosed with magnesium deficiency, then in this case, you must take another drug that can be prescribed to children. Next will be described such a tool - it is Magne B6 in ampoules. Also, the relative disadvantage may be high cost.If a person takes 4 tablets per day, then a package of 60 tablets will be enough for only two weeks, and the monthly course will already cost 1000 rubles.
Magnesium Chelate Evalar
Rating: 4.7
What are chelated compounds? They have nothing in common with dressing gown and negligence. Chelate complex is a special type of compound of large molecules with metal atoms, which at the same time gives a stable structure and protects the metal from various chemical reactions. Chelates facilitate its transportation to the required place, and then the chelate complex quietly breaks up into parts, and the metal ion begins to have an active effect, where it is needed. Getting a chelate complex is not easy at all. This requires modern chemical production.
Such high-tech production is currently launched in the company Evalar. Magnesium Chelate from Evalar is an opportunity to get an easily accessible and easily digestible form of magnesium. It is absorbed easily, because it does not require additional transformation in the body. Its digestibility is almost 100%. The patient is transferred to the chelated form of magnesium, as well as other metals, very well, and is able to penetrate the transplacental barrier.
Magnesium Chelate from Evalar is shown as a food additive, for the prevention of stress and cardiovascular diseases, for maintaining health during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Magnesium Chelate is shown for adults and children over 14 years old. These tablets are expensive: a package of 60 tablets will cost an average price of 920 rubles. According to the instructions, both adults and children should take one or two tablets per day with meals. The course is a month. This means that the package is enough just for the monthly course.
Advantages and disadvantages
The great advantage of a chelated magnesium compound is its high bioavailability, good tolerability and digestibility, the ability in a mild form to prevent various states associated with magnesium deficiency. Even the relatively high price should not scare, because one package is immediately enough for a monthly course.
But there are also inevitable disadvantages that are not at all connected with the form of release, but with the intake of the element itself. This, as in the previous case, is treatment with levodopa preparations and severe forms of renal failure, in which the body's load with magnesium ions is simply contraindicated, which can not be removed by diseased kidneys. Also, the company Evalar does not produce drugs, and therefore in the testimony there is no diagnosis of mild and moderate hypomagnesemia. Therefore, it is necessary to take this drug in your pleasure with the preventive purpose.
Best magnesium asparaginate
Perhaps it is the magnesium and potassium asparaginate that is best known to older people and patients who are being treated by a cardiologist. The fact is that in the Russian Federation most of these well-known drugs are sold for the prevention of magnesium and potassium deficiency, both Panangin and Asparkam. In these dosage forms, magnesium and potassium ions are combined with an aspartic or amino amber acid residue. This amino acid residue is also of great importance for the metabolism of nitrogen, is involved in the synthesis of pyrimidine bases, which then serve as nucleic acids. Good bioavailability is characteristic of potassium and magnesium asparaginate preparations, and the most common of them are Panangin and Asparkam.
Panangin, Panangin Forte
Rating: 4.9
It was mentioned above that Panangin and Asparkam like to prescribe therapists and cardiologists mostly to elderly people. The fact is that Panangin contains, in addition to magnesium, potassium, namely, potassium deficiency often leads to disruption of cardiac activity and heart rhythm. Why can potassium deficiency occur? Yes, because the elderly can take drugs for the treatment of arterial hypertension, and often among them are diuretics, which are removed from the body.
Therefore, Panangin is indicated primarily for various arrhythmias and cardiac abnormalities, as a means of prophylaxis in treating cardiac glycosides, since potassium deficiency can occur, and only last of all - as a prophylactic or food additive with potassium and magnesium deficiency. Unlike the previous means described above, Panangin is positioned as a true drug.
Apply Panangin or Panangin Forte is necessary after meals. Panangin Forte differs from simple Panangin substances: one tablet contains 316 mg of potassium asparaginate and 280 - of magnesium asparaginate, and in a simple Panangin - 158 and 140 mg, respectively. The usual course of treatment for a month, the maximum daily dose is three tablets 3 times a day. The Panangin and Panangin Forte are produced by the Hungarian company Gedeon Richter, and the cost of one package of 50 tablets is 150 rubles. There are also intravenous forms of administration, which are used in hospitals.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantage of Panangin and Panangin Forte is the combination of magnesium with potassium. This is both an excellent marketing ploy and an opportunity to immediately improve the therapeutic effect, since the lack of potassium and magnesium is dictated by the same mechanisms. The drug is well tolerated, is inexpensive, but at the same time you need to keep in mind the contraindications, among which are still chronic renal failure, an increased concentration of magnesium, potassium, and a severe form of atrioventricular block. With caution it is necessary to take Panangin and Panangin Forte during pregnancy, and especially during the first trimester, because potassium preparations can cause significant harm to the baby if it is in excess. A pack of 50 tablets costs, on average, only 48 rubles, and Asparkam is produced by the domestic company Medisorb.
Aspark
Rating: 4.8
Asparks can be considered as a “budget” analogue of Panangin. Each tablet contains aspartic acid magnesium and potassium - 175 milligrams. There is no particular difference between Asparkam and Panangin, which is described above, neither by indications, nor by contraindications, nor by the regimen of administration. However, some patients note that it is a little more rude. And not in relation to direct action, but by sensation immediately after its reception. There may be a heaviness in the stomach, a slight burning sensation in the epigastric region. Especially often these symptoms may appear in patients with cholecystitis or gastritis with low acidity.
Similarly, the list of contraindications when taking Asparkam contains atrioventricular block, hyperkalemia, and hypermagneemia. The only significant plus of Asparkam is availability and low price.
Best magnesium lactate
The pharmaceutical industry produces a significant amount of various complex magnesium compounds based on lactate, or lactic acid. This Complivit Magnesium, Magne B6 and other means. Lactate should not be confused with lactose. Lactose is called “milk sugar”, and lactate is sometimes figuratively called “blood sugar”, since lactic acid is nothing but an intermediate product of the physiological acuity of the breakdown of glucose, the main energy substrate.
Magnesium Complivite
Rating: 4.9
Complivite Magnesium is named so purely for commercial purposes. Unlike all of the above preparations, which contain either only magnesium compounds, or in half - magnesium and potassium asparaginate, Complivite Magnesium is a real vitamin-mineral complex. It contains vitamin A, vitamin E, group B vitamins, ascorbic acid, calcium pantothenate, folic acid, vitamin B12, compounds of copper, zinc - and, finally, magnesium lactate. Therefore, with success it was possible to call it whatever you like: Complivit copper, Complivit zinc, or Complivit folic acid. There would be no difference, except for other catchy names.
It is necessary to apply this means on one tablet daily, reception duration with the preventive purpose - one month. The instructions specifically indicate that this tool is not a medicine. Produces this drug company Pharmstandard, Ufa Vitamin Factory. One pack of 60 multivitamin tablets costs, on average, 200 rubles. It is, of course, inexpensive.
Advantages and disadvantages
Since Complivit Magnesium is not considered a medicine, among the contraindications can only be called individual intolerance. After all, if a drug is not registered as a medicine, then it is officially possible not to write anything about contraindications for use, because contraindications exist only for drugs. Naturally, in the case of individual intolerance to the components, there will necessarily be a corresponding indication in the instructions, and this is how the dietary supplements can be distinguished from drugs. The downside is only a preventive focus. If a physician is diagnosed with an element deficiency, then it makes no sense to take multivitamin complexes, to which “just a little bit of everything” is added, does not make sense. It is necessary to be treated only with those drugs that are specifically designed to correct the deficiency, and we will discuss this drug right now. This is Magne B6.
Magne B6
Rating: 4.8
Magne B6 is available in two dosage forms: tablets, as well as oral solution. We describe this drug on the example of a solution. Magne B6 is available in ampoules, but not for intravenous or intramuscular injection, but in order to break them, shake them into a glass of water and drink. Each vial contains magnesium lactate. Taken together, taking 3 or 4 ampoules daily allows not only to fully satisfy the body’s need for an element, but also to quickly eliminate its deficiency. Magne B6 as a liquid is a brown solution with a faint caramel smell.
It is indicated for use if the patient has conditions such as gastrointestinal spasms, tachycardia, muscle spasms and muscle soreness, irritability, and tingling sensations in the muscles against the background of increased magnesium consumption. If the laboratory method reveals a shortage of magnesium in the blood plasma, then Magne B6 in ampoules allows you to quickly normalize the deficiency. Thus, the indication for admission is clinically and laboratory confirmed magnesium deficiency. One of the most frequent indications for prescribing is pregnancy, as well as nutritional deficiency, or malnutrition during pregnancy.
It should be used during meals, for adults - up to 4 ampoules per day. Babies older than 1 year should be prescribed at a dose of 10 to 30 mg per kilogram, but the appointment is made by a pediatrician, after confirmation of hypomagnesemia. Usually, an ampoule for adults is diluted in a half glass of water, and after control and normalization of the level of this element, treatment is stopped.
Magne B6 is produced by the French company Sanofi-Aventis, the average cost of 10 ampoules of 10 ml each is 500 rubles.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantage of Magne B6 in ampoules is the possibility of a quick correction of magnesium deficiency, good tolerance, as well as the ability to prescribe it to babies, which is rare in the world of medical preparations of magnesium. The relative disadvantage is the high cost, not quite convenient reception, when it is necessary to use the ampoule, even with self-breaking tips. It must be remembered that the drug can not be used with low glomerular filtration and severe forms of renal failure, as well as if the patient is taking levodopa or parkinsonism.
Magnelis B6
Rating: 4.7
We have already described the drug Maggelis B6 Forte, which is magnesium citrate. But it turns out that there is simply Magnelis B6, which has nothing to do with citric acid, but is magnesium lactate.In terms of magnesium in one tablet is 48 mg of magnesium, plus 5 mg of vitamin B6 - pyridoxine hydrochloride.
The drug is shown primarily to eliminate the deficiency of this element, and those symptoms that occur when magnesium decreases in serum below 0.5 mmol per liter. These symptoms include: spastic unpleasant pain in the epigastrium and abdomen, rapid pulse, weakness, irritability and insomnia, unpleasant and painful tingling in the muscles and their spasms. The drug is indicated for adults and children over 6 years old, and it is necessary to take from 6 to 8 tablets per day for adults, and up to 6 tablets daily for children whose weight exceeds 20 kg.
All tablets should be divided into two or three doses, take the drug with meals. But after normalization of the concentration of magnesium in the blood plasma, treatment is stopped. Maghelis B6 is produced by Pharmstandard, a domestic enterprise, and the cost of one pack of 90 tablets, calculated for at least two weeks of administration, is 515 rubles. If desired, you can find this package in pharmacies and at a price of 380 rubles, but this happens infrequently. Therefore, the average monthly cost of the course will be 900 - 1000 rubles.
Advantages and disadvantages
This drug has several minor but unpleasant flaws. Firstly, there is the drug Maggelis B6 Forte, which is not lactate, but citrate. According to the established pharmaceutical tradition, usually a drug with the prefix "Forte" is a product in which there is either an enhanced dose or some other component is added. In this case, from a legal point of view, Maggelis B6 Forte is a completely different substance, although it contains magnesium. This can lead to some confusion, and especially in pharmacies, when workers at the first table can advise a similar drug. The second small drawback, but also unpleasant, is the need to take a large number of pills every day, and each of them requires drinking water, and this should be done while eating. This is not convenient for everyone, and therefore it is possible to skip such a drug, since the patient's adherence to reception is far from ideal. It would be much better to choose a dosage so that the drug is administered once or twice a day. At the same time its price is quite high.
Magnesium Orotate: Magnerot (Magnemax)
Rating: 4.6
Orotic acid is a bit like vitamin in its structure, and is quite often used as an organic radical for the purpose of combining with various metals - with iron, calcium and magnesium. Any organic radical increases the bioavailability of the metal, and therefore magnesium orotate has the same right to medical use as lactate or asparticum. One of the classic representatives of magnesium orotate is Magnerot, a dietary supplement.
Each Magnerot tablet contains 500 mg of magnesium orotate. This drug is indicated mainly for cardiac patients. That is how instruction advises. Despite the fact that it could well be positioned as a means for the prevention and treatment of magnesium deficiency, the manufacturers decided to occupy narrower niches. Therefore, Magnerot is indicated for patients with heart attack, coronary heart disease, chronic heart failure and heart rhythm disturbances, muscle pain, lipid metabolism disorders and atherosclerosis.
Thus, manufacturers have chosen the path of symptomatic indications. On the one hand, it is much easier and patients with angina will buy Magnerot much better, and doctors will be better prescribed. Magnerot is produced by German company Mayermann, or domestic PIK-Pharma, and one package of 50 tablets will cost about 650 rubles. Magnerot is applied 2 tablets 3 times a day, so this package will last for 8 days of intake. This is a rather expensive drug, especially considering that a monthly course will require four packs, each worth 650 rubles.
Advantages and disadvantages
Magnerot, or magnesium orotate, has no significant advantages over other drugs. Yes, magnesium orotate has good bioavailability, but good lactate also has good bioavailability, while in chelate complexes it is even higher. The cost of this drug is quite high, the contraindications are exactly the same, and since the manufacturers positioned it as a drug for cardiovascular disease, they listed liver cirrhosis, ascites, urolithiasis with a predisposition to the formation of magnesium, phosphate, calcium and ammonium stones in the list of contraindications. Thus, it is undesirable for patients with urolithiasis in virtually all forms of stones to use this drug, especially with long courses. Since the increase in the list of contraindications reduced the number of potential buyers, it was necessary to raise the price to minimize the planned losses.
Compliance, that is, patient adherence to the reception is not very high, because the drug should be applied in a dose of 6 tablets for 7 days, and then - one tablet three times a day. Perhaps, if Magnerot would have a cost of about 230-240 rubles, it would be quite competitive, and this is the usual magnesium drug with a not very convenient method of administration at a fairly high price.
This can finish the review of magnesium preparations, which can be found in Russian pharmacies at affordable prices. Of course, the above preparations do not exhaust the list of supplements containing magnesium. Thus, magnesium glycinate may be present in the chelate form, there are additives in the form of malate, that is, magnesium salts of malic acid. You can find rare magnesium taurine. In online stores you can see among the preparations of magnesium from algae, isolated from the salts of the Dead Sea. Sometimes an aqueous solution of magnesium chloride is used, which is applied to the skin and rubbed. However, all these nutritional supplements are quite expensive, and do not have significant advantages over the above in the rating of popular magnesium preparations.
Attention! This rating is subjective, is not advertising and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you should consult with a specialist.
