The key difference between magnesium malate and magnesium citrate is that the magnesium malate is the combination of mineral magnesium and malic acid whereas the magnesium citrate is the combination of mineral magnesium and citric acid.
Both magnesium malate and magnesium citrate are magnesium salts. There are many health benefits of these compounds. Both these are important as dietary supplements. Magnesium malate is a highly bioavailable form of magnesium. Magnesium citrate has medicinal applications; as a saline laxative. Moreover, we use it as a food additive as well.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Magnesium Malate
3. What is Magnesium Citrate
4. Side by Side Comparison – Magnesium Malate vs Magnesium Citrate in Tabular Form
5. Summary
What is Magnesium Malate?
Magnesium malate is a magnesium salt of malic acid. It has the magnesium cation and malate anion in 1:1 ratio. The IUPAC name of this compound is Magnesium 2-hydroxybutanedioate. The molar mass is 156.38 g/mol. The chemical formula of this compound is C4H4MgO5. Furthermore, this compound is useful as a mineral supplement and we discuss it as a highly bioavailable form of magnesium.
Figure 01: Chemical Structure of Magnesium Malate
Together magnesium and malic acid provide many health benefits. For example, it reduces the Fibromyalgia Related Pain. Fibromyalgia is a chronic neurological disease in which excessive fatigue and deep muscular pain occur. Moreover, this compound has the chelating ability. It can chelate and reduce the toxicity of some toxic metals. Ex: Aluminum detoxification. This compound is also useful as an ingredient in cosmetics because of its ability to exfoliate the skin.
What is Magnesium Citrate?
Magnesium citrate is a magnesium salt of citric acid. It has magnesium cation and citrate anion in 1:1 ratio. But sometimes this name may refer to the salt having magnesium cation and citrate anion in 3:2 ratio. The IUPAC name is Magnesium 2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate and the molar mass is 214.41 g/mol.
Figure 02: Chemical Structure of Magnesium Citrate
It has many medicinal applications as well as other applications. For example, it is useful as a saline laxative. In addition, we can use it in the pill form as a dietary supplement. It contains 11.32% magnesium by weight. Moreover, we can use this compound as a food additive to regulate acidity.
What is the Difference Between Magnesium Malate and Magnesium Citrate?
Magnesium malate is a magnesium salt of malic acid. It has the magnesium cation and malate anion in 1:1 ratio. Furthermore, the molar mass of this compound is 156.38 g/mol. On the contrary, Magnesium citrate is a magnesium salt of citric acid. It has magnesium cation and citrate anion in 1:1 ratio but sometimes this name may refer to the salt having magnesium cation and citrate anion in 3:2 ratio. The molar mass of this compound is 214.41 g/mol.
Summary – Magnesium Malate vs Magnesium Citrate
Magnesium malate and magnesium citrate are important dietary supplements. The difference between magnesium malate and magnesium citrate is that the magnesium malate is the combination of mineral magnesium and malic acid whereas the magnesium citrate is the combination of mineral magnesium and citric acid.
Reference:
1. Bruso, Jessica. “What Are Malic Acid & Magnesium Used For?” LIVESTRONG.COM, Leaf Group, 3 Oct. 2017. Available here
2. “Magnesium Citrate.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 19 June 2018. Available here
Image Courtesy:
1.’Magnesium malate’ by Edgar181- Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2.’Magnesium citrate’By Edgar181 – Own work, (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
