Difference Between Magnesium Orotate and Magnesium Citrate

The key difference between magnesium orotate and magnesium citrate is that magnesium orotate is the magnesium salt of orotic acid whereas magnesium citrate is the magnesium salt of citric acid.

Magnesium orotate and magnesium citrate are both used as medications. In addition, magnesium citrate has many other applications including its use in the food industry as a food additive, as a dietary supplement, etc.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Magnesium Orotate
3. What is Magnesium Citrate
4. Side by Side Comparison – Magnesium Orotate vs Magnesium Citrate in Tabular Form
5. Summary

What is Magnesium Orotate?

Magnesium orotate is the magnesium salt of orotic acid. The chemical formula of this compound is C₁₀H₆MgN₄O₈. The molar mass of this compound is 334.48 g/mol. This magnesium salt is very useful as a mineral supplement. For example, this supplement can be used to treat extracellular magnesium deficiency. It is also important in mitigating magnesium depletion that inhibits the binding of adenosine triphosphate (ATP); this inhibition occurs via orotic acid.

Difference Between Magnesium Orotate and Magnesium Citrate

Figure 01: Chemical Structure of Magnesium Orotate

Magnesium orotate is poorly soluble in water. This is because of its nonpolar nature. Orotic acid that forms from magnesium orotate can act as a transporter molecule that can carry magnesium ions into the cells. Moreover, this substance shows antioxidant properties. This is because it is useful as an intermediate biosynthetic pathway of the synthesis of enzymes from pyrimidines. Here, magnesium orotate acts as a free radical scavenger.

What is Magnesium Citrate?

Magnesium citrate is a magnesium salt of citric acid, having the chemical formula C₆H₆MgO₇. The molar mass of this compound 214.41 g/mol. The IUPAC name of magnesium citrate is Magnesium 2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate. Magnesium citrate is available as a white powder.

Key Difference - Magnesium Orotate vs Magnesium Citrate

Figure 02: Chemical Structure of Magnesium Citrate

Magnesium citrate contains one magnesium cation per citrate anion. But sometimes, other magnesium salts such as trimagnesium citrate also are called magnesium citrate; hence it is a common name. However, magnesium citrate (containing one magnesium cation) is more water-soluble than other magnesium citrate salts and is less alkaline.

There are many different applications of magnesium citrate in different areas. For example, magnesium citrate is a food additive that is used to regulate the acidity of food items. In medicine, it is used as a saline laxative (a substance used to loosen stools and avoid constipation). Apart from that, it is also used as a dietary supplement because it contains about 11.23% magnesium by weight. It is available in the form of pills when used as a dietary supplement.

What is the Difference Between Magnesium Orotate and Magnesium Citrate?

Magnesium orotate and magnesium citrate are magnesium salts of different acids. The key difference between magnesium orotate and magnesium citrate is that magnesium orotate is the magnesium salt of orotic acid whereas magnesium citrate is the magnesium salt of citric acid. Moreover, magnesium orotate contains one magnesium ion per two orotate ions while in magnesium citrate, there is one magnesium ion per one citrate ion. Also, the molecular formula of magnesium orotate is C₁₀H₆MgN₄O₈ while the molecular formula of magnesium citrate is C₆H₆MgO₇.

Below infographic tabuates the differences between magnesium orotate and magnesium citrate.

Summary – Magnesium Orotate vs Magnesium Citrate

Reference:

1. “Magnesium Orotate.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 19 May 2017, Available here.
2. “Magnesium Orotate.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 19 May 2017, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Magnesium orotate” By Edgar181 – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Magnesium citrate” By Edgar181 – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia