Magnesium Taurate
Cardiovascular Health
Overview
- Magnesium taurate is a chelated mineral compound.
- A magnesium ion is bound to two molecules of the amino-acid taurine (Mg + 2 × taurinate).
- This formulation delivers magnesium, a vital co-factor for >300 enzymatic reactions.
- It simultaneously supplies taurine, a conditionally essential amino acid that supports cellular membrane stability and neurotransmission.
- The primary purpose of magnesium-taurate supplementation is to improve magnesium bioavailability.
- It aims to harness the synergistic cardiovascular and neuro-protective actions of both constituents.
Chemistry
- Magnesium taurate is a magnesium(II) salt of taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid).
- Its empirical formula is C₄H₁₀N₂O₅S·Mg.
- Molecular weight is ~ 236 g mol⁻¹ (Mg = 24.3 g, taurate ≈ 111.1 g).
- The IUPAC name: magnesium bis(2-amino-ethanesulfonate).
- The compound consists of a divalent Mg²⁺ ion coordinated octahedrally to two taurinate anions through the sulfonate oxygen atoms.
- This forms a stable chelate that resists precipitation in the gastrointestinal tract.
- It is a white, hygroscopic powder, soluble in water (≈ 30 g L⁻¹ at 25 °C) and sparingly soluble in ethanol.
- The pKa of taurine (≈ 2.4 and 9.1) enables it to act as a zwitterion at physiological pH.
- This contributes to the compound’s high solubility and bioavailability.
- The chelated structure protects magnesium from premature binding to dietary phytates, enhancing systemic absorption.
Sources & Quality
- Magnesium-taurate is produced synthetically.
- It is made by reacting magnesium oxide or magnesium carbonate with taurine under controlled temperature and pH conditions.
- This yields a high-purity, food-grade product.
- Natural sources of the individual components are abundant:
- Magnesium is extracted from seawater or mineral ores (e.g., magnesite).
- Taurine is derived from animal protein hydrolysates (fish, meat) or produced via bacterial fermentation (e.g., E. coli engineered to overproduce taurine).
- Commercial supplements typically use the chemically-synthesized form.
- This guarantees a defined Mg:taurine ratio (1:2) and eliminates batch-to-batch variability.
- Quality considerations include testing for heavy-metal contamination (lead, cadmium), residual solvents, and verification of the Mg content (via ICP-MS).
- Reputable brands follow GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and provide third-party certificates of analysis to ensure purity and accurate labeling.
Where to Buy Magnesium Taurate
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