What Is Magnesium Citrate-Laurate?

When you see magnesium citrate-laurate in a long list of chemical names on the nutritional label of a container of capsules or pills, you probably wonder what it is and how it affects you. Many vitamins and medications contain not only active ingredients but also inactive ingredients needed for aesthetic or manufacturing reasons.

Uses of Magnesium Citrate-Laurate

Magnesium citrate-laurate is an inactive ingredient used as filler in pills and capsules. It is an additive produced by adding lauric acid to magnesium citrate.

Lauric Acid

Lauric acid is a medium-chain fatty acid found in coconut oil, palm kernel oil and in smaller quantities in milk. Because lauric acid does not affect the degree to which vitamins and minerals are absorbed, it may be used as a component of fillers in vitamin and mineral capsules.

Citric Acid

Citric acid is a weak acid found in citrus fruits. It's often added to foods to give a slightly acidic or sour taste. Because of its antioxidant properties, it is also used as a preservative. Citric acid can be used as an emulsifier as well, to prevent fats and water from separating in foods.

Magnesium Citrate

Magnesium citrate consists of elemental magnesium mixed with citric acid. In small quantities, it can be used as a magnesium supplement for people with magnesium deficiencies. In slightly larger quantities, it acts as a laxative by increasing the amount of water in the colon. In the quantities in which it is used as a filler in a single capsule or tablet, magnesium citrate-laurate is unlikely to have a noticeable effect, but consumers should consult their health care providers before taking magnesium supplements or using magnesium-based laxatives.

References

• Thorne Research: FAQ
• Tiana Organics: What Is Lauric Acid and How Does It Affect You?
• MayoClinic.com: Magnesium Supplement (Oral Route, Parenteral Route)
• MayoClinic.com: Over-the-counter Laxatives for Constipation: Use with Caution
• ScienceDaily: Citric Acid
• Ochef.com: Are Citric Acid and Ascorbic Acid Twins?
• Understanding Food Additives: Emulsifiers