Vitamin and mineral supplements are often wasted, because of inadequate absorbtion by the body. Attaching them to amino acids increases absorption. Magnesium asparate is one example of these so-called chelated mineral compounds. Because magnesium is required in trace amounts for many chemical reactions in your body, taking a magnesium supplement may be beneficial. Magnesium aspartate can help ensure that the magnesium you take is actually absorbed.
Chemistry
Not all magnesium aspartate supplements are the same. The amount of chelation of the aspartic acid with the magnesium affects the chemistry of the final product. For example, some magnesium aspartate supplements have the chemical formula Mg(C4H6NO4)2·2H2O, indicating that two water molecules are associated with each magnesium aspartate molecule. Other formulations show three water molecules associated with each magnesium aspartate molecule, and still others show four water molecules. Each of these formulations affects the molecular weight of the compound. The appearance of various magnesium aspartate compounds range from a white to off-white powder, insoluble in water, to a white, crystalline or clear powder that's freely soluble in water. Safety studies in England concluded that magnesium aspartates demonstrate greater oral absorption and bioavailability compared to less soluble magnesium preparations such as magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide, magnesium carbonate and magnesium sulphate.
Function
Despite its vital importance for many biochemical reactions in the body, typical American diets do not contain enough magnesium. More than 300 enzymes require magnesium as a cofactor. Magnesium is essential for all biosynthetic processes as part of a complex with adenosine triphosphate or ATP, the key energy chemical of the body. Glycolysis, the breakdown of sugar to release energy, energy-dependent membrane transports, transmission of the genetic code for protein synthesis, muscle functions, maintenance of normal heart rhythm and blood pressure, as well as many more reactions in your body require adequate levels of magnesium. Magnesium is particularly important in bones. Nearly two-thirds of your body's magnesium is located in your skeleton. Douglas Laboratories reports that in laboratory animal models mimicking conditions of postmenopausal women, supplemental magnesium promotes bone formation, increases bone strength and prevents bone resorption.
Aspartic acid is the amino acid chelated to magnesium in magnesium aspartate supplements. Aspartic acid is a naturally occurring amino acid found in foods but can also be made in the body. It is easily absorbed, and therefore, when bound to magnesium, increases the absorption of magnesium as well.
Dosage
The recommended daily allowance or RDA of magnesium depends on your age. While 50 mg is sufficient for newborn to 6-month old children, adults usually require about 300 to 400 mg. Therapeutic doses are higher, as not all of the magnesium is absorbed. Typically these can range from 50 to 250 mg or more. Taken as magnesium aspartate, therapeutic doses of magnesium are much lower than when it's taken in other forms such as magnesium oxide.
Hypermagnesemia
Taken in recommended quantities, no adverse effects of magnesium asparate have been reported. The normal adult value of magnesium in the blood is between 1.5 and 2.5 milliequivalents per liter. High blood levels of magnesium, or hypermagnesemia, can occur, however, caused either by disease states such as kidney disease or by an overdose of magnesium supplements. Symptoms of hypermagnesemia include cardiovascular disease, muscle or joint pains, low stomach acid, low blood pressure, depression, higher risk for several cancers, dry skin, diarrhea, osteoporosis, joint or spinal degeneration, muscle spasms or cramps, dehydration, and fatigue.
Hypomagnesemia Symptoms
Symptoms of low levels of magnesium or hypomagnesemia include irregular heart beat, cardiovascular disease, anxiety, insomnia, nervousness, fatigue, muscle or joint pains, osteoporosis, seizures, high stomach acid, asthma, high blood pressure, PMS, depression, sweating, muscle spasms or cramps, dysmenorrhea, angina, constipation and migraine headaches. If you are experiencing any combination of these symptoms, it is worth asking your doctor to check magnesium levels in your blood. Your doctor may suggest taking a magnesium aspartate supplement to help increase your magnesium levels.
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