In looking at my ReMag bottle and also Dr. Dean's book "The Magnesium Miracle", here are some observations: Under ingredients of the ReMag, the magnesium is listed this way: "Ionic Picometer size Magnesium from Ionized Magnesium Chloride". And yes, the serving size of 1/2 tsp is listed equal to "150 mg Magnesium (Elemental)". The Concentration is listed as "60,000 ppm (parts per million)".
On page 243 of her book, under "Magnesium Supplement Absorption", she says "The amount of magnesium your tissues can readily use is based on how soluble the magnesium product is and the amount of elemental or ionic magnesium that is released." Over the next few pages, she talks about many technical things way over my head, such as "stability constant values", and the importance of having correct pH and stomach acid to be able to absorb various forms of magnesium supplements, which may be part of the reason why, for many of us, finding a magnesium product that works for us can be so challenging.
Dr. Dean puts picometer magnesium virtually in a separate sub-category from other forms of mag supplements. This might be interesting for Vanessa, where she talks on page 245 about combining picometer magnesium with magnesium taurate: "Magnesium taurate is a special combination of the amino acid taurine and magnesium that has special properties for the heart. ... Taken together in this combination, magnesium and taurine have a synergistic effect, stabilizing cell membranes, calming the nervous system, and inhibiting nerve excitation ... In a series of studies ... it appears that the amino acid taurine is important for heart health and may help prevent arrhythmias ..."
Here's what she says about magnesium chloride in general (page 245): "Magnesium chloride is a form of magnesium that comes in capsules, powder, picometer magnesium and IV solution. Some say it may be the best magnesium for ingestion. That's because minerals need to be dissolved in gastric acid to go into solution. And, magnesium chloride has extra chloride molecules to produce hydrochloric acid in the stomach to enhance its absorption."
On page 250 she sort of summarizes: "Picometer magnesium, then IV magnesium, then magnesium oil are the most absorbable forms of magnesium in that order. Next comes magnesium glycinate, magnesium taurate, and magnesium orotate. A very close fifth is magnesium citrate, but since it's usually cheaper than other oral forms, it's become the most popular. Magnesium oxide is a distinct sixth and very poorly absorbed, but it makes a great laxative."
On page 247 she adds that most medical studies on magnesium are done using magnesium oxide, which is a shame due to its very poor rate of absorption. At about 4% absorption, a 500 mg capsule of magnesium oxide, providing 300 mg elemental magnesium, in reality would only equate to about 12 mg magnesium being absorbed, with the remaining 288 mg staying in the gut and creating a laxative effect.
"Imagine how much more favorable the results would be if a more absorbable form of magnesium such as picometer magnesium were used."
She goes on to say on page 241, "When you look at the amount of elemental magnesium in various supplements, you see that magnesium oxide seems to have a higher amount of available magnesium; however, studies have shown that only about 4 percent of that amount is absorbed. We are told that about 50 percent of magnesium in foods and water is absorbed. All other supplements range somewhere in between.
"Chelated magnesium, bound to organic amino acids, is better absorbed than magnesium oxide but is more expensive. Complementary medicine practitioners rely on chelated magnesium, such as magnesium glycinate, taurate, and orotate, to treat serious cases of magnesium deficiency."
Also on page 241, Dr. Dean describes picometer magnesium: "Picometer magnesium is a non-laxative liquid form of magnesium that is fully absorbed at the cellular level making it highly therapeutic." She treats it as a unique form of magnesium chloride. She also mentions on page 240, that "Even non-laxative picometer magnesium will cause the laxative effect when you reach saturation and take more than you require."
This is too scientific for me to understand, but what I'm suggesting is that it comes across to me that her picometer magnesium, while it may be originally derived from a form of magnesium chloride, is elementally changed to the point where Dr. Dean considers it to be a unique form of supplementation, with extremely high absorption capabilities. She also states that magnesium chloride is usually the form of magnesium used in magnesium oils and sprays.
Whew, time for a nap!! This is definitely Tex's area, and I'll leave it to him!! (But agree, finishing his latest book should be priority #1!!)
~ Holly
I take her ReAline product which has Taurine in it....
