Same elemental magnesium · two salts · snapshot 2026-08-10
Magnesium glycinate vs sulfate: 1,418–1,691 vs 991–2,028 mg of compound for 200 mg of magnesium
Magnesium glycinate is 11.8–14.1% elemental magnesium and magnesium sulfate is 9.9–20.2%, so 200 mg of magnesium needs 1,418–1,691 mg of glycinate against 991–2,028 mg of sulfate: 2–3 vs 2–3 size 00 capsules at powder density 0.8 g/mL, the top of the usual 0.6–0.8 range. 3 of 25 capsule labels naming glycinate alone are above the assumed size 000 capacity at powder density 0.8 g/mL, against none for sulfate (no capsule label names it alone). Prices within each salt: glycinate from $0.0666 per 100 mg (median $0.1889, 17 ranked offers); no ranked sulfate price; observed 2026-10-26 to 2026-11-02.
computed from chemical formulas
Chart data
| Displayed chart text |
|---|
| 100 mg magnesium |
| sulfate 495–1,014 · glycinate 709–845 |
| 200 mg magnesium |
| sulfate 991–2,028 · glycinate 1,418–1,691 |
| 400 mg magnesium |
| sulfate 1,981–4,057 · glycinate 2,837–3,381 |
Data release 2026-08-10-f441aa9f · registry snapshot 2026-08-10 · latest price observation 2026-11-02 · chemistry 2026-10-17
How much glycinate or sulfate carries the same elemental magnesium?
At the same elemental amount, sulfate (9.9–20.2% magnesium) always needs less compound than glycinate (11.8–14.1%): for 400 mg of magnesium, 1,981–4,057 mg against 2,837–3,381 mg. That is the mass of powder per dose; how much of it is absorbed is what the studies below measured.
computed| Elemental magnesium | glycinate compound | glycinate size 00 | sulfate compound | sulfate size 00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 mg | 709–845 mg | 1–2 | 495–1,014 mg | 1–2 |
| 200 mg | 1,418–1,691 mg | 2–3 | 991–2,028 mg | 2–3 |
| 400 mg | 2,837–3,381 mg | 4–5 | 1,981–4,057 mg | 3–6 |
glycinate: bisglycinate; chelate hydration varies by supplier; sulfate: anhydrous 20.2%, heptahydrate 9.9%; hydration ambiguity stays a range.
Source · Chemical formulas and NIH DSLD labels · snapshot 2026-08-10 · release 2026-08-10-f441aa9f · CSV · method
Estimated salt mass versus assumed capsule capacity
3 of 25 capsule labels naming glycinate alone are above the assumed size 000 capacity at powder density 0.8 g/mL, against none for sulfate (no capsule label names it alone). Verdicts use the most favourable hydration and the most units per serving at powder density 0.8 g/mL, the top of the usual 0.6–0.8 range; the audited registry as a whole has 8 of 137 capsule labels above size 000.
computed with assumption| Salt | Audited capsule labels | Fits 0 or 00 | Needs 000 | Exceeds 000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| glycinate | 25 | 14 | 8 | 3 |
| sulfate | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source · NIH DSLD labels; mass balance · recognized salt only; snapshot 2026-08-10 · release 2026-08-10-f441aa9f · CSV · method
Which glycinate and sulfate labels are above the assumed size 000 capacity at powder density 0.8 g/mL?
3 of 25 glycinate capsule labels declare more magnesium than the named salt alone can deliver from a size 000 capsule, at the most favourable hydration and units per serving; each row opens the label's own arithmetic.
computed with assumption| Label | Salt | Salt per capsule | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| eXplicit Supplements Magnesium Glycinate 425 mg | glycinate | 1,507 mg | exceeds size 000 |
| NutriONN Magnesium Glycinate 1600 mg | glycinate | 1,418 mg | exceeds size 000 |
| Swolverine Magnesium Bisglycinate | glycinate | 1,418 mg | exceeds size 000 |
Source · NIH DSLD labels; mass balance · recognized salt only; snapshot 2026-08-10 · release 2026-08-10-f441aa9f · CSV · method
What does each cost per 100 mg of elemental magnesium, within its own salt?
Compared only with offers of the same salt: glycinate from $0.0666 per 100 mg (median $0.1889, 17 ranked offers); no ranked sulfate price. Prices observed 2026-10-26 to 2026-11-02; a ranking exists only inside one salt, because the compound mass per 100 mg of magnesium differs between salts.
computed| Salt | Ranked offers | Lowest per 100 mg | Median per 100 mg | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| glycinate | 17 | $0.0666 | $0.1889 | 2026-11-02 |
| sulfate | 0 | none | none | 2026-11-02 |
Source · Amazon via licensed data provider; NIH DSLD · unique ASIN × date; prices observed 2026-10-26 to 2026-11-02 · release 2026-08-10-f441aa9f · CSV · method
Has any study measured glycinate and sulfate side by side?
One study in the PubMed-checked registry measured both salts in the same design; 6 involve glycinate and 2 involve sulfate in total. They measured outcomes of the salts, not of any label.
measured| Year | Study | Salts measured | PubMed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Study of magnesium bioavailability from ten organic and inorganic Mg salts in Mg-depleted rats using a stable isotope approach | oxide, chloride, sulfate, carbonate, citrate, gluconate, lactate, aspartate, glycinate | 16548135 |
| 2024 | Comparative Clinical Study on Magnesium Absorption and Side Effects After Oral Intake of Microencapsulated Magnesium (MAGSHAPE™ Microcapsules) Versus Other Magnesium Sources. | citrate, glycinate, oxide | 39770988 |
| 2024 | The bioaccessibility and tolerability of marine-derived sources of magnesium and calcium. | glycinate | 38608850 |
| 2020 | Dose-Dependent Absorption Profile of Different Magnesium Compounds | oxide, citrate, glycinate, malate | 30761462 |
| 2003 | Mg citrate found more bioavailable than other Mg preparations in a randomised, double-blind study | citrate, oxide, glycinate | 14596323 |
| 1995 | Bioavailability of magnesium diglycinate vs magnesium oxide in patients with ileal resection | glycinate, oxide | 7815675 |
| 2019 | Timeline (Bioavailability) of Magnesium Compounds in Hours: Which Magnesium Compound Works Best? | sulfate, oxide, taurate, citrate, malate | 29679349 |
Source · PubMed-checked study registry · registry checked 2026-08-10 · release 2026-08-10-f441aa9f · CSV · method
How many labels name both glycinate and sulfate?
No label names both glycinate and sulfate as of 2026-08-10, against 126 labels naming glycinate and 4 naming sulfate.
measured| Label | Declared elemental per serving | NIH DSLD |
|---|---|---|
| No label as of 2026-08-10 |
Source · Chemical formulas and NIH DSLD labels · snapshot 2026-08-10 · release 2026-08-10-f441aa9f · CSV · method
What does every dose from 25 to 1,000 mg of magnesium need in each salt?
The table converts 40 elemental amounts, 25 to 1,000 mg in 25 mg steps, into compound mass and size 00 capsules for both salts, against 730 mg per size 00 capsule at powder density 0.8 g/mL, the top of the usual 0.6–0.8 range. The first eight rows are shown; the rest open below.
computed| Elemental magnesium | glycinate compound | glycinate size 00 | sulfate compound | sulfate size 00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 mg | 177–211 mg | 1 | 124–254 mg | 1 |
| 50 mg | 355–423 mg | 1 | 248–507 mg | 1 |
| 75 mg | 532–634 mg | 1 | 371–761 mg | 1–2 |
| 100 mg | 709–845 mg | 1–2 | 495–1,014 mg | 1–2 |
| 125 mg | 887–1,057 mg | 2 | 619–1,268 mg | 1–2 |
| 150 mg | 1,064–1,268 mg | 2 | 743–1,521 mg | 2–3 |
| 175 mg | 1,241–1,479 mg | 2–3 | 867–1,775 mg | 2–3 |
| 200 mg | 1,418–1,691 mg | 2–3 | 991–2,028 mg | 2–3 |
32 additional rows
| Elemental magnesium | glycinate compound | glycinate size 00 | sulfate compound | sulfate size 00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 225 mg | 1,596–1,902 mg | 3 | 1,114–2,282 mg | 2–4 |
| 250 mg | 1,773–2,113 mg | 3 | 1,238–2,535 mg | 2–4 |
| 275 mg | 1,950–2,325 mg | 3–4 | 1,362–2,789 mg | 2–4 |
| 300 mg | 2,128–2,536 mg | 3–4 | 1,486–3,043 mg | 3–5 |
| 325 mg | 2,305–2,747 mg | 4 | 1,610–3,296 mg | 3–5 |
| 350 mg | 2,482–2,959 mg | 4–5 | 1,734–3,550 mg | 3–5 |
| 375 mg | 2,660–3,170 mg | 4–5 | 1,857–3,803 mg | 3–6 |
| 400 mg | 2,837–3,381 mg | 4–5 | 1,981–4,057 mg | 3–6 |
| 425 mg | 3,014–3,593 mg | 5 | 2,105–4,310 mg | 3–6 |
| 450 mg | 3,191–3,804 mg | 5–6 | 2,229–4,564 mg | 4–7 |
| 475 mg | 3,369–4,015 mg | 5–6 | 2,353–4,817 mg | 4–7 |
| 500 mg | 3,546–4,227 mg | 5–6 | 2,476–5,071 mg | 4–7 |
| 525 mg | 3,723–4,438 mg | 6–7 | 2,600–5,325 mg | 4–8 |
| 550 mg | 3,901–4,649 mg | 6–7 | 2,724–5,578 mg | 4–8 |
| 575 mg | 4,078–4,861 mg | 6–7 | 2,848–5,832 mg | 4–8 |
| 600 mg | 4,255–5,072 mg | 6–7 | 2,972–6,085 mg | 5–9 |
| 625 mg | 4,433–5,283 mg | 7–8 | 3,096–6,339 mg | 5–9 |
| 650 mg | 4,610–5,495 mg | 7–8 | 3,219–6,592 mg | 5–10 |
| 675 mg | 4,787–5,706 mg | 7–8 | 3,343–6,846 mg | 5–10 |
| 700 mg | 4,965–5,917 mg | 7–9 | 3,467–7,099 mg | 5–10 |
| 725 mg | 5,142–6,128 mg | 8–9 | 3,591–7,353 mg | 5–11 |
| 750 mg | 5,319–6,340 mg | 8–9 | 3,715–7,606 mg | 6–11 |
| 775 mg | 5,496–6,551 mg | 8–9 | 3,839–7,860 mg | 6–11 |
| 800 mg | 5,674–6,762 mg | 8–10 | 3,962–8,114 mg | 6–12 |
| 825 mg | 5,851–6,974 mg | 9–10 | 4,086–8,367 mg | 6–12 |
| 850 mg | 6,028–7,185 mg | 9–10 | 4,210–8,621 mg | 6–12 |
| 875 mg | 6,206–7,396 mg | 9–11 | 4,334–8,874 mg | 6–13 |
| 900 mg | 6,383–7,608 mg | 9–11 | 4,458–9,128 mg | 7–13 |
| 925 mg | 6,560–7,819 mg | 9–11 | 4,581–9,381 mg | 7–13 |
| 950 mg | 6,738–8,030 mg | 10–12 | 4,705–9,635 mg | 7–14 |
| 975 mg | 6,915–8,242 mg | 10–12 | 4,829–9,888 mg | 7–14 |
| 1,000 mg | 7,092–8,453 mg | 10–12 | 4,953–10,142 mg | 7–14 |
Source · Chemical formulas and NIH DSLD labels · snapshot 2026-08-10 · release 2026-08-10-f441aa9f · CSV · method