Magnesium chloride

Magnesium chloride is one of the most frequently studied magnesium compounds. As an essential mineral, magnesium is involved in numerous physiological processes in your body. In this article, you will find out what distinguishes magnesium chloride and how it differs from other magnesium compounds such as Magnesium L-threonate and Magnesium malate based on current data.

What is magnesium chloride?

Magnesium chloride (chemical formula: MgCl₂) is a salt that mainly occurs as a hexahydrate. It is present as a colorless, readily water-soluble substance and is found naturally in seawater, salt lakes and certain salt deposits such as bischofite.

It is important to note that magnesium chloride refers to a specific magnesium compound. The term "magnesium", on the other hand, describes the chemical element itself, which is involved in numerous physiological processes in the body. If you would like to find out more about the basic meaning of the mineral, you can find more information in our basic article "What is magnesium".

Origin and extraction of magnesium chloride

Magnesium chloride mainly comes from natural sources. These include seawater, salty lakes and underground salt deposits. In industrial production, evaporation processes are usually used in which seawater is concentrated and then further processed.

The origin of the magnesium chloride plays an important role in the purity and quality of the end product. For use in food or food supplements , high requirements therefore apply to processing, control and quality standards in order to avoid possible contamination.

Magnesium chloride in the body - physiological classification

Magnesium chloride supplies the body with magnesium. According to the European Food Safety Authority, this mineral supports several basic physiological functions. These include, among others:

• Muscle function: Magnesium contributes to normal muscle function.
  
• Energy metabolism: Magnesium supports normal energy metabolism.
• Nervous system: Magnesium contributes to the normal function of the nervous system.
• Electrolyte balance: Magnesium supports the balance of electrolytes in the body.

Important for the classification: Magnesium chloride does not act as an independent active ingredient, but serves exclusively as a source of magnesium. The chloride it contains is also an electrolyte and a component of the acid-base balance. Here, too, the physiological effects result from the interaction of different minerals - not from a single magnesium compound.

Magnesium has been the focus of scientific research for many years and has been investigated in various contexts. For example, a randomized clinical trial showed that daily supplementation with magnesium chloride in adults with mild to moderate depressive symptoms was associated with changes in certain questionnaire scores. Possible correlations between magnesium status and aspects of sugar metabolism are also currently being investigated in clinical studies.

Application of magnesium chloride

Magnesium chloride is not only used in the food sector, but also plays a role in numerous technical and industrial applications. The following table gives you an overview of selected areas of application.

Magnesium chloride in foods and food supplements

Magnesium chloride is used as a source of magnesium in foods and food supplements. Due to its good water solubility, magnesium chloride is technically easy to process. It is often a component in a magnesium complex, which combines several magnesium compounds to cover different properties.

Which magnesium compound makes sense depends on the respective product concept, composition and individual factors - not on a single property alone.

Can magnesium chloride be absorbed through the skin?

Magnesium chloride is often advertised as a so-called "magnesium oil" for application to the skin. However, this approach has not yet been clearly scientifically proven. Although there are studies on the transdermal application of magnesium, the available data is limited and sometimes contradictory.

The current state of research shows: The oral intake of magnesium is well studied and established. Statements on the efficacy of transdermal application should therefore be made with caution and clearly classified as the subject of current research.

What distinguishes magnesium chloride from other magnesium compounds?

The fact that there are different magnesium compounds is due to the chemical bonding of magnesium. This influences properties such as solubility, structure and areas of application.

Tolerability and possible side effects

Magnesium is generally considered to be well tolerated. A high intake can lead to gastrointestinal effects such as softer stools, regardless of the magnesium compound. Individual tolerance can vary and depends, among other things, on the amount ingested and personal factors.
Medical advice should be sought in the event of health complaints or prolonged side effects.

In general, the tolerance of magnesium is individual and should always be considered in connection with the dosage.

Conclusion - overview of magnesium chloride

Magnesium chloride is a versatile magnesium compound with a wide range of uses - in industrial applications as well as in food and food supplements. Due to its good water solubility, it serves as a practical source of magnesium and is easy to process technically.
The decisive factor here is that the focus is not on the compound itself, but on the magnesium that it provides. Magnesium chloride is therefore one of several available forms of magnesium that differ in properties such as solubility, structure and application. Which magnesium compound makes sense in a particular context depends on the overall composition of a product and on individual factors and cannot be determined across the board.