Liquid Calcium Magnesium Reviews

Liquid calcium magnesium is an easy way to supplement your intake of magnesium rich foods. While not forgetting that foods are in fact the best sources of magnesium, it can be tough to get all you need at times. If you do choose to use a supplement, liquid magnesium supplements would likely be absorbed better than solid magnesium supplements. Also, if you are already taking calcium supplements, it is vital that you add magnesium to the mix. An imbalance on the side of calcium can deprive your body of its needed magnesium.

Plenty of companies make liquid calcium magnesium, and the ratios of calcium to magnesium vary. Many go with the 2 parts calcium to one part magnesium formula. I myself am more inclined to favor something closer to 1:1, which is similar to the Japanese diet.

Let’s start with a smaller brand:

Angstrom Liquid Calcium Magnesium Supplement

angstrom-liquid-calcium-magnesium

This is not a widely know brand, yet has the richest blend of magnesium to calcium, actually 2:1 (2 parts magnesium, one part calcium). They also claim to be strict about not placing additives or flavorings in their product. They also say their product is “cell ready,” meaning it doesn’t need to go through the digestion process that tablet or capsule supplements require – and that it can be in “every cell in your body within 10 minutes.” They don’t say how this is different from every other manufacturer of liquid calcium magnesium, though. Nor do they specify whether they use magnesium citrate, magnesium chloride, or yet another form of magnesium. Still, worth visiting their website at angstrom-mineral.com to have a look for yourself.

Bluebonnet Liquid Calcium Magnesium

Bluebonnet Liquid Calcium Magnesium

This has the advantage of being one of the most widely available, as well as one of the lowest priced, supplements of this category out there. They offer strawberry flavor, mixed berry, orange, and vitamin d enhanced blends, among others. They use magnesium citrate, and their biggest sales point is that they don’t make you gag. Straight magnesium is not the tastiest thing out there, and so these flavorings help you wash it down. Others can claim that makes it less pure, but even the purest magnesium won’t help you if you can’t stomach the thought of drinking it. The ratio is 2:1 calcium to magnesium, just the opposite of the above, but the one that is most commonly suggested. Bluebonnet is found on Amazon, as well as elsewhere, from $11 and up.

Tropical Oasis Calcium Magnesium

Tropical Oasis Calcium Magnesium

The advantage of Tropical Oasis, according to the reviews, is that it’s the best tasting (even if a bit chalky) and more effective than other brands. With 720 mg of magnesium citrate and 1200 mg of calcium, as well as vitamin d and creamy orange flavoring, they strive to be the upper end product that tastes good. Priced at $19 to $29 (check both Amazon and their website), it looks like a fairly safe option if you want to spend the extra money and are concerned about taste.

Floradix Liquid Calcium-Magnesium w/ Zinc

Floradix liquid calcium magnesium with zinc

Floradix contains 186 mg magnesium and 155 mg calcium per serving, as well as 3.5 mg of zinc. At a price  in the $20-$25 range, it is made with both magnesium gluconate and citrate. The ratio is almost a 1:1 ratio for magnesium and calcium, yet there is nothing that distinguishes it from the others here except for the use of glutamate forms of magnesium, which have different effects on the body, and the addition of zinc.

Target-Mins Liquid Calcium Magnesium

Target Mins Calcium Magnesium

Liquid Target-Mins Calcium-Magnesium is focused on this formula with an added Vitamin D3 Complex. The “unique Target-Mins delivery system for increased effectiveness of mineral supplementation.” In their words, “First, we use a complex of free form amino acids combined for increased absorption. Second, we use not only a 2 to 1 ratio of Calcium to Magnesium, but we also use a 2 to 1 ratio of Calcium to Phosphorus. In a clinical study at Creighton University by Dr. Haney, it was demonstrated that for every 1,000 mg of Calcium consumed as a supplement, your body requires 500 mg of added Phosphorus for proper utilization. Third, we add vitamin D3, which has been shown to support proper regulation of the body?s Calcium/Phosphorus ratio and activate osteoblast function to support healthy bone structures.” That answers most of my questions. The magnesium comes in the form of magnesium citrate, aspartate, alpha-ketoglutarate, and taurinate. The price is around $28, but can be had more cheaply at Amazon.

Liqumins Cal/Mag/Zinc Liquid Supplement

Liqumens Calcium Magnesium Liquid Supplement

Liqumens specializes is easy-to-drink liquid supplements. This one comes with an exotic pina-colada flavor, which suits the milkiness of magnesium. It has a 2:1 ratio of calcium to magnesium (1200 mg to 600 mg), but also includes phosphorous , zinc and several other ingredients. Very favorable reviews on Amazon, with a price similar to the others – in the $20 to $29 range.

I am sorry that I haven’t provided any link for these, though they are easily found by searching Google or Amazon. I just don’t want to link to products that I am not personally familiar with. Several of the above look interesting to me, but I get plenty of magnesium through my diet here in Japan. If I wasn’t, I would be tempted to try a liquid calcium magnesium drink, though one with at least as much magnesium as calcium.

Magnesium During Pregnancy

Magnesium and Pregnancy - Some ThoughtsIs Magnesium Safe During Pregnancy?

As long as you don’t overdo it, yes. The United States daily requirements for magnesium are actually increased in pregnant women as follows:

Adult Female: 300mg

Pregnant Female: 320mg

Breastfeeding Female: 350mg

That’s too little according to many sources. The Baby Center goes even farther:

Pregnant women, 19 to 30 years of age: 350 milligrams (mg) of magnesium per day
Pregnant, 18 and younger: 400 mg
Pregnant, 31 and older: 360 mg
Breastfeeding women, 19 to 30: 310 mg
Breastfeeding, 18 and younger: 360 mg
Breastfeeding, 31 and older: 320 mg

There is some evidence that magnesium helps prevent the uterus from contracting too soon, though this is still inconclusive. Magnesium certainly helps prevent cramps, though.

Magnesium citrate, on the other hand, is something that the FDA recommends taking only when the benefits outweigh the risks.

In BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in August 2007, two studies are cited. The first study concluded:

“Additional magnesium appeared to benefit the fetus during labour. Significantly fewer showed fetal heart rate irregularities, meconium-stained liquor and partogram abnormalities. The supplemented group also had fewer late stillbirths either before or during labour.”

“It must be stressed that these secondary findings, although of interest, need to be substantiated by further work. Until then, supplementation cannot be recommended but poorly nourished women should be encouraged to eat a diet that contains adequate magnesium, in particular brown – rather than white – bread.”

The second study had the following comments:

“In our commentary, we recommend further research to find out whether improving calcium intake from before pregnancy might reduce not only blood pressure, but associated problems such as protein in the urine as well. We suggest that fortification of staple foods might make the benefits of adequate calcium intake available to all pregnant women, not only those with access to antenatal care.”

“While these studies show that the consumption of certain minerals during pregnancy results in favourable outcomes for mother or baby, it must be stressed that in these studies, the intake of supplements are carefully measured.”

“Women should attend their antenatal clinics so that tests identifying problems can be carried out. If they are interested to know more about supplementation, they should speak to their GPs and midwives for further advice.”

“We should note that women who do not have a deficiency in magnesium or calcium need to be careful about taking extra supplements if they don’t need it.”

So, while magnesium looked like a plus, these were undernourished women in the study. Assuming you have a healthy diet, you may want to think twice about using magnesium supplements.

There are several other studies, and while most suggest that magnesium is  beneficial for the fetus, almost all balance that by saying that the results for well-nourished women may be different.

So What to Do?

In light of the research, try eating better. An extra serving of spinach, nuts or halibut each day may do wonders. If you really feel the need to take supplements, at least try to make sure the dosage is not much over the RDA of 350mg.