Magnesium Orotate

The magnesium orotate derives from the salification of magnesium with orotic acid, operated to increase the bioavailability of the mineral. The bond that is formed between magnesium and orotic acid is particularly stable; consequently, the compound is scarcely soluble in water and almost immune to the digestive action of gastric acids and intestinal enzymes. Consequently, the supplementation of magnesium orotate does not exert the laxative-osmotic action typically related to the use of easily dissociable magnesium salts (such as magnesium chloride). At the same time, the bonding of the mineral to an organic compound is considered favorable in terms of better bioavailability, like other organic salts such as magnesium citrate, magnesium gluconate, magnesium taurinate and magnesium aspartate. Moreover, with reference to these compounds, some studies indicate minimal differences with respect to the bioavailability of inorganic forms such as magnesium chloride, which showed a rate of urinary excretion similar to that of the most popular (and expensive) organic salts.

Each gram of magnesium orotate supplies the body only 60/70 mg of elemental magnesium (data obtained from the values reported on the label by manufacturers of supplements based on magnesium orotate).

It is therefore a particularly expensive salt, to the point that many users prefer to use cheaper products, even if - at least in theory - less bioavailable.

In some commercial products examined during the writing of this article, the orotate magnesium is placed side by side with other less expensive salts, so as to contain the final price of the supplement. In other cases the cunning is to insert separately in the formulation orotic acid in cheap magnesium salts. In any case, it is worth repeating:

There is not enough scientific data to attribute greater bioavailability to orotate magnesium than to other organic salts and magnesium chloride.

The specific supplementation of magnesium orotate has been studied in the clinical field especially in the field of cardiovascular diseases, thanks to the possible benefits of orotic acid.

Orotic acid

Orotic acid was originally awarded the appellation vitamin B13, but is currently no longer considered as such. However, orotic acid is an intermediate stage in the biosynthesis of pyrimidine necessary for the synthesis of DNA and RNA. The increased availability of pyrimidine precursors for the repair of damaged tissues and for the synthesis of enzymes with antioxidant activity, could explain the still timid evidence that attributes some utility to orotic acid in case of ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarction, to limit hypoxic damage and increase cardiac efficiency

Food sources of orotic acid reside mainly in the milk of ruminants; in cow's milk there are levels of 20-100 mg / l, while in goat and sheep milk the levels are slightly higher.

Orotic acid associated with magnesium would be useful to limit the loss of the cation through the urine, prolonging its half-life.

OROTIC ACID SAFETY: EFSA, the European authority that assesses food safety, concluded that the use of orotate as a source of various minerals and choline added for nutritional purposes to food supplements constitutes - at levels proposed use (1.8 - 6206 mg / day) - a cause of concern for safety, given the effect emerged in animal experiments according to which orotic acid promotes the formation of tumors initiated by various known carcinogenic substances.

Bibliography:

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Bioavailability of US commercial magnesium preparations.

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Vestn Ross Akad Med Nauk. 2010; (2): 29-37.

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Magnes Res. 2005 Dec; 18 (4): 215-23.

Study of magnesium bioavailability from ten organic and inorganic Mg salts in Mg-depleted rats using a stable isotope approach.

Coudray C, Rambeau M, Feillet-Coudray C, Gueux E, Tressol JC, Mazur A, Rayssiguier Y.

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Magnesium orotate - experimental and clinical evidence.