How does magnesium citrate differ from other forms of magnesium, and why does it matter? — RELAX-ZEN natural shot food supplement, 250 ml-KOSK

Magnesium comes in different chemical forms: oxide, sulphate, glycinate, malate, citrate and others. They differ in solubility and bioavailability — that is, in what share of the mineral is actually absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract.

Magnesium citrate is a salt of magnesium and citric acid. It dissolves well in water, which makes it convenient for liquid formats such as this shot. Compared with magnesium oxide (the cheapest and most common form in tablets), citrate generally shows higher bioavailability in studies.

In the shot, magnesium citrate is supplemented with vitamins B6 and B12: in the daily dose (25 ml) — 375 mg of magnesium (100 % of the daily reference value), 10 mg of vitamin B6 (714 %) and 2.5 µg of vitamin B12 (100 %). The high vitamin B6 content is worth bearing in mind if you take other supplements containing B6.

In addition, the formula contains extracts of valerian (50 %), meadowsweet (25 %), St John's wort (10 %) and lemon balm (5 %), as well as apple and blueberry concentrates.

Magnesium takes part in hundreds of enzymatic reactions, including those linked to muscle and nervous-system function. Nevertheless, the supplement is not intended to diagnose or treat magnesium deficiency — if you suspect it, see a doctor.