Magnesium absorption from mineral waters of different magnesium content in healthy subjects.

Objective: To assess the absorption of magnesium (Mg) from mineral waters of different Mg content in comparison to low mineralized water and a Mg capsule.

Design: Randomized, controlled, double- blind trial in a crossover design with an additional control with a Mg capsule.

Setting: Institute of Balneology and Medical Climatology, Medical School of Hanover, Germany.

Subjects: 22 healthy male volunteers aged between 23-46 years.

Intervention: After a standardized breakfast, each participant received, in Latin square order, 500 ml of either of two Mg-rich mineral waters (281 or 120 mg/l). As a control condition, a mineral water of low Mg content (8 mg/l) was used. A Mg capsule (Magnesium-Diasporal 150, Protina, Ismaning, Germany) was used for further comparisons.

Results: Changes in serum Mg levels in the first 4 hours after intake differed significantly between the groups (p = 0.030; ANOVA). Mean values differed between the Mg-rich mineral water conditions and the control conditions though did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.055), however, mean values did not differ between the test waters and the capsule (p = 0.338).

Conclusion: Magnesium from mineral waters can easily be absorbed and its absorption rate is similar to that from a pharmaceutical Mg preparation.