What magnesium taurate is
Taurine is an amino sulfonic acid. Two taurine molecules bound to one magnesium atom form magnesium taurate. The compound is about 9% magnesium by weight (calculated from the formula, and one of our labels states 8.9%). That is lower than citrate, malate or bisglycinate and close to L-threonate.
Compound weight or magnesium: the label decides
The two taurate products in our range show why the label matters more than the name on the front:
| What the label states | Elemental magnesium | % of NRV (375 mg) |
|---|---|---|
| 400 mg magnesium taurate in 2 capsules | 36 mg | 10% |
| Magnesium from magnesium taurate, 2 tablets | 200 mg | 53% |
| Magnesium from magnesium taurate, 4 tablets | 400 mg | 107% |
Both packs say 400 mg. In the first, 400 mg is the weight of the compound; in the second, it is the magnesium. Always read the line that says magnesium and the % NRV next to it.
How to choose magnesium taurate: dose, capsules or tablets
With taurate the first step is to check what the 400 mg or 200 mg on the pack refers to. If the label line reads magnesium from magnesium taurate, the figure is elemental magnesium. If it names only magnesium taurate, the magnesium is about 9% of that weight. Next, look at the % NRV per daily dose: a product below 15% gives only a small amount of magnesium, and the EU claims do not apply to it. Then count the capsules or tablets per day and compare the price per day on the product cards.
The other forms have their own pages: bisglycinate, citrate, malate and l-threonate. The Magnesium page compares them all.
What a magnesium supplement label must show
Directive 2002/46/EC requires every food supplement label in the EU to state the recommended daily dose, a warning not to exceed it, a statement that supplements should not replace a varied diet, and a reminder to store the product out of reach of young children. The label must also give the amount of magnesium per daily dose and its share of the reference value. Those are the lines we use to compare the products in this collection.
EU health claims for magnesium
Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 permits these statements only for products that provide at least 15% of the NRV per daily dose:
- Magnesium contributes to normal muscle function.
- Magnesium contributes to electrolyte balance.
A product with 10% of the NRV per daily dose does not meet that threshold, so these claims do not apply to it. The EU has not authorised any health claim for taurine.
Magnesium in 1000 mg of each compound
Approximate figures, calculated from the chemical formulas:
| 1000 mg of | Magnesium (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Magnesium taurate | about 90 mg |
| Magnesium L-threonate | about 75-80 mg |
| Magnesium bisglycinate | about 140 mg |
| Magnesium citrate | about 110-160 mg |
Reaching the full 375 mg NRV from taurate alone takes roughly 4 g of the compound. That is why a taurate product with a high magnesium dose asks for several tablets a day.
Questions
Why is there so little magnesium in some taurate capsules?
Taurine makes up about nine tenths of the compound's weight. A capsule filled with 200 mg of magnesium taurate holds only around 18 mg of magnesium.
How do I compare taurate with other forms?
Compare the elemental magnesium per daily dose and the price per day. We show both on every product card.
How much magnesium taurate should I take a day?
Take the daily dose on the label and do not exceed it. In our range, 2 tablets of the higher-dose product give 200 mg of magnesium (53% of the NRV) and 4 tablets give 400 mg, while 2 capsules of the other product give 36 mg. If you also take another magnesium product, add up the magnesium from both labels.
When should I take magnesium taurate?
No official guidance names a time of day. Many labels suggest taking it with a meal. If the daily dose is several tablets, you can spread them over the day unless the label says otherwise.
Can I combine magnesium taurate with another form?
Yes, as long as you add up the elemental magnesium from every product and follow each label. A low-dose taurate can be paired with a citrate or bisglycinate if you want more magnesium in total.
Can I take magnesium taurate with medicines?
Ask your pharmacist if you take any medicine regularly. The NIH notes that magnesium binds some antibiotics in the gut, so those should be taken at least 2 hours before or 4-6 hours after a magnesium supplement.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex XIII (reference intakes)
- Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 (permitted health claims)
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Magnesium fact sheet
- Directive 2002/46/EC on food supplements
- EFSA: Health claims
Content reviewed by Inese Kalniņa, dietitian.
2026-09-08