If you’re shopping for magnesium glycinate in the UK, there’s something worth checking before you buy.
Not all magnesium glycinate supplements are what they appear to be on the label. A significant number of products — including many best-sellers on Amazon — blend in magnesium oxide alongside the glycinate. It’s a cheaper, far less absorbable form of magnesium, and most brands don’t disclose it clearly. Not on the front of the pack. Not in the marketing copy. Sometimes not even on the ingredients list.
There’s a simple way to check any product yourself, using nothing but the numbers already on the label — we’ll show you exactly how, further down.
We’ve compared five of the best magnesium glycinate supplements currently available in the UK against that check, along with potency, purity, third-party testing, and overall value. All five passed. But before the picks, it’s worth understanding exactly what we looked for, and why it matters.
Quick Comparison Table
Here’s a quick comparison of the five magnesium glycinate supplements covered in this guide.
| Product | Elemental Mg (per capsule) | Magnesium Glycinate (per capsule) | Elemental % | Capsule Count | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAGSUPPS Magnesium Glycinate | 100mg | 750mg | 13.3% | 90 | £15.95 |
| Time Health NovoMin Magnesium Bisglycinate | 95mg | 790mg | 12% | 120 | £18.99 |
| Love Life Supplements Magnesium Bisglycinate | 76mg | 688mg | 11% | 240 | £35.95 |
| Nature Provides Magnesium Glycinate | 60mg | 600mg | 10% | 120 | £22.71 |
| Epsilon Life Magnesium Glycinate | 55mg | 500mg | 11% | 120 | £17.99 |
What Is Magnesium Glycinate & Why It’s Different
Magnesium glycinate — also known as magnesium bisglycinate — is magnesium chelated, or bonded, to two molecules of glycine, an amino acid. This chelated structure is what sets it apart from other forms.
Magnesium itself contributes to normal muscle and nerve function, normal psychological function, reduction of tiredness and fatigue, and normal energy-yielding metabolism, among other EFSA-authorised health claims1.
But the bond with glycine adds something extra. It improves how efficiently the body absorbs and uses the mineral2, and makes it significantly gentler on digestion than poorly absorbed forms like magnesium oxide3 — which has an absorption rate as low as 4%, and is commonly linked to the bloating and loose stools that put many people off magnesium supplements altogether. Glycine itself also acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the nervous system4, supporting a calm, relaxed state, and has been shown in research to improve sleep quality5.
Together, magnesium and glycine make for a combination well-suited to sleep, relaxation, and everyday magnesium support — one of the reasons magnesium glycinate has become one of the most popular forms of magnesium.
The Problem in the UK Magnesium Glycinate Market
Magnesium glycinate has a fixed chemical identity: magnesium bonded to two molecules of glycine. That bond determines exactly how much elemental magnesium the compound can contain — between 10% and 14% by weight. That’s not a brand decision or a formulation choice. It’s simply chemistry, and it can’t be changed.
So when many of the top-selling supplements in the UK claim an elemental percentage of 20% or higher, that raises an obvious question. Pure magnesium glycinate can’t reach that figure. So what’s actually in the capsule?
The answer is buffering — blending magnesium glycinate with magnesium oxide, a far cheaper, much less absorbable form of magnesium. Adding oxide costs very little and inflates the elemental magnesium figure on the label, making the product look stronger than it actually is. It also brings back the digestive side effects — bloating, loose stools — that magnesium glycinate is specifically chosen to avoid.
The bigger issue isn’t that some brands do this. It’s how rarely it’s disclosed. Magnesium oxide rarely appears as its own line on the ingredients panel, and it’s almost never mentioned in the marketing copy. Many customers buying what they believe is pure magnesium glycinate are, in fact, getting something else.
The good news: you don’t need to take any brand’s word for it — including ours. The next section shows you exactly how to check any product yourself, in ten seconds.
The 10-Second Test (How to Spot a Buffered Product)
You can check whether a magnesium glycinate supplement is blended with magnesium oxide in ten seconds, using just two figures from the label.
Find these two figures:
- The elemental magnesium per serving (usually listed simply as “Magnesium,” in mg)
- The total milligrams of magnesium glycinate per serving (sometimes listed as “magnesium bisglycinate”)
Then divide one by the other:
Elemental magnesium ÷ Total magnesium glycinate = Elemental %
Here’s what the result tells you:
- Above 14% – magnesium oxide is in the formula. Pure magnesium glycinate does not exceed 14% elemental magnesium by weight. Anything higher means buffering has occurred — most commonly around 20% in the UK market, though figures can range from 18% up to 30%.
- Between 10% and 14% – consistent with pure, non-buffered magnesium glycinate.
A real buffered example — Holland & Barrett Magnesium Bisglycinate 375mg
Holland & Barrett list 85mg of elemental magnesium per capsule, from a blend of 375mg magnesium bisglycinate and 95mg magnesium oxide — 470mg total. Run the test:
85 ÷ 470 = 18.1%
To their credit, Holland & Barrett disclose the magnesium oxide clearly, both in the nutrition panel and on the ingredients list. That’s exactly how it should be done, and it’s worth crediting a brand that gets the disclosure right, even when the formula itself is buffered.
The real problem is the brands that don’t disclose it at all — no mention on the nutrition panel, nothing in the ingredients list, nothing in the marketing copy. Now you know how to check for yourself, regardless of what a label does or doesn’t tell you.
5 of the Best Magnesium Glycinate Supplements in the UK
At MAGSUPPS, we specialise in magnesium supplements for the UK market, and our goal with this article wasn’t to create another advertorial — it’s to highlight a real problem in this category, and showcase a handful of brands doing it right, including our own.
All five magnesium glycinate supplements below deliver the pure, non-buffered form of magnesium glycinate, and each stands out for a different reason — potency, purity, third-party testing, or overall value. There’s no single best option here — just the one that best fits what you’re looking for.
MAGSUPPS Magnesium Glycinate
MAGSUPPS Magnesium Glycinate delivers 100mg of elemental magnesium from 750mg of magnesium glycinate per capsule — a 13.3% elemental figure, comfortably within the pure, non-buffered range.
The formula is two ingredients: magnesium glycinate and a vegan capsule shell. No fillers, no flow agents, nothing else. MAGSUPPS is a UK brand that specialises exclusively in magnesium — no wider supplement range, just the one thing done properly.
Every batch is independently tested by an accredited third-party lab, with results published directly on the MAGSUPPS website by batch number — publicly published, not just available on request.
Packaging is an eco-friendly pouch rather than a plastic bottle. Less waste overall, though it won’t suit everyone — if you prefer a rigid bottle, that’s worth factoring in.
Key Highlights:
- £15.95 per pouch (90 capsules)
- 100mg elemental magnesium per capsule
- 100% pure — no fillers
- Third-party lab reports by batch, publicly available on website
- Eco-friendly pouch packaging
- UK-made
Available from: Amazon
Time Health NovoMin Magnesium Bisglycinate
Time Health NovoMin Magnesium Bisglycinate delivers approximately 95mg of elemental magnesium from 790mg of magnesium glycinate per capsule — a 12% elemental figure, comfortably within the pure, non-buffered range.
Time Health uses NovoMin, a branded bisglycinate developed by US manufacturer NovoTech, produced to defined quality standards and both in-house and third-party tested for traceability.
Manufactured in the UK to GMP standards, with third-party testing in place. The bottle is made from recycled material, and Time Health plants a tree per order.
Key Highlights:
- £18.99 per bottle (120 capsules)
- 95mg elemental magnesium per capsule
- Uses NovoMin branded bisglycinate from NovoTech
- In-house and third-party tested
- Recycled packaging, tree planted per order
- UK-made, GMP standards
Available from: Time Health
Love Life Supplements Magnesium Bisglycinate
Love Life Supplements Magnesium Bisglycinate delivers approximately 76mg of elemental magnesium from 688mg of magnesium glycinate per capsule — an 11% elemental figure, comfortably within the pure, non-buffered range.
The formula is explicitly positioned around sleep and muscle recovery. Love Life also address the buffering issue directly in their own marketing, a detail worth noting given how rarely it’s mentioned at all in this category.
BRC and GMP certified, manufactured in the UK, with a formula free from fillers.
Key Highlights:
- £35.95 per bottle (240 capsules)
- 76mg elemental magnesium per capsule
- Formulated for sleep and muscle recovery
- Addresses buffering directly in their own marketing
- BRC and GMP certified
- UK-made, zero fillers
Available from: Love Life Supplements
Nature Provides Magnesium Glycinate
Nature Provides Magnesium Glycinate delivers 60mg of elemental magnesium from 600mg of magnesium glycinate per capsule — a 10% elemental figure, at the lower end of the pure, non-buffered range.
Nature Provides uses TRAACS chelated bisglycinate, a branded chelate, and the product was formulated by a certified Nutritional Therapist.
The label lists no fillers or binders — just the active ingredient and a capsule shell. Every batch is tested, with a Certificate of Analysis available on request.
Key Highlights:
- £22.71 per bottle (120 capsules)
- 60mg elemental magnesium per capsule
- Uses TRAACS branded chelate
- Formulated by a certified Nutritional Therapist
- No fillers or binders
- COA available on request
Available from: Nature Provides
Epsilon Life Magnesium Glycinate
Epsilon Life Magnesium Glycinate delivers 55mg of elemental magnesium from 500mg of magnesium glycinate per capsule — an 11% elemental figure, comfortably within the pure, non-buffered range.
The formula uses chelated magnesium bisglycinate with a rice flour base, with no magnesium oxide or magnesium stearate. Dosing is flexible — one capsule for a lower daily intake, two for a fuller dose.
Manufactured in the UK to GMP and BRCGS standards, independently lab verified, and vegan certified.
Key Highlights:
- £17.99 per bottle (120 capsules)
- 55mg elemental magnesium per capsule
- Flexible dosing — 1 or 2 capsules daily
- No magnesium oxide or magnesium stearate
- UK-made, GMP and BRCGS standards
- Independently lab verified, vegan certified
Available from: Epsilon Life
Frequently Asked Questions
What is magnesium glycinate good for?
Magnesium contributes to normal muscle and nerve function (including the heart), normal psychological function, reduction of tiredness and fatigue, normal energy-yielding metabolism, and maintenance of normal bones and teeth, per EFSA-authorised health claims.
Glycine adds its own properties on top — it acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter, supporting a calm nervous system, and has been shown to improve sleep quality. Together, the two are widely used for sleep, relaxation, and everyday magnesium support.
Magnesium glycinate vs bisglycinate — what’s the difference?
Nothing chemically — they’re the same compound. Bisglycinate is technically the correct term, reflecting the two glycine molecules bonded to each magnesium ion. Glycinate is simply the more commonly used term, and UK brands often use both interchangeably, sometimes on the same label.
How much magnesium glycinate do I need per day?
Daily magnesium requirements vary by age and gender. For most adults, 300mg is the general recommended intake, rising to 375mg based on the EU Nutrient Reference Values used for UK supplement labelling.
If you’re new to magnesium supplementation, it’s worth starting at a lower dose and building up gradually, rather than jumping straight to the full amount. If you’re unsure what’s right for you, consult a healthcare professional.
What are the risks and side effects?
Magnesium glycinate is one of the gentlest, best-tolerated forms of magnesium available and is unlikely to cause digestive side effects at recommended doses, unlike magnesium oxide. Taking more than the recommended daily intake may cause loose stools in some people.
Magnesium can interact with certain medications, including antibiotics, diuretics, and osteoporosis medications, so speak to your GP before starting if you’re on prescribed medication. If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to conceive, consult a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement.
The Bottom Line
Magnesium glycinate is one of the most effective, well-tolerated forms of magnesium available — but as this guide has shown, not every product sold under that name is what it claims to be.
The ten-second test changes that. Two numbers, one calculation, and you know more about what’s actually in a supplement than most people who’ve been buying it for years. Use it on anything — not just the products covered here.
All five supplements in this guide passed that test. They’re UK-made, genuinely non-buffered, and each has its own particular strengths — whether that’s potency, ingredient sourcing, formulation, or price. There’s no single best option — just the one that best fits what you’re looking for.
As always, consult your healthcare professional before starting any new supplement, particularly if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medication.
References:
- EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA). Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to magnesium and electrolyte balance, energy-yielding metabolism, neurotransmission and muscle contraction, cell division, maintenance of bone and teeth, blood coagulation, and protein synthesis pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. EFSA Journal, 2009;7(9):1216. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2009.1216 ↩︎
- Blancquaert L, Vervaet C, Derave W. Predicting and Testing Bioavailability of Magnesium Supplements. Nutrients. 2019 Jul;11(7):1663. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6683096/ PMID: 31330811 ↩︎
- Schuette, S.A., Lashner, B.A., & Janghorbani, M. Bioavailability of Magnesium Diglycinate vs Magnesium Oxide in Patients with Ileal Resection. JPEN Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, 1994;18(5):430-435. https://doi.org/10.1177/0148607194018005430 PMID: 7815675 ↩︎
- López-Corcuera B, Geerlings A, Aragón C. Glycine neurotransmitter transporters: an update. Rev Mol Membr Biol. 2001 Jan-Mar;18(1):13-20. PMID: 11396606. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11396606/ ↩︎
- Yamadera, W., Inagawa, K., Chiba, S., Bannai, M., Takahashi, M., & Nakayama, K. (2007). Glycine ingestion improves subjective sleep quality in human volunteers, correlating with polysomnographic changes. Sleep and Biological Rhythms, 5, 126–131. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1479-8425.2007.00262.x ↩︎