Magnesium supplementation - transdermal application might not give sufficient plasma concentrations compared to oral route

[Tina_Maria]

I was looking into ways of increasing Magnesium concentrations and was interested in the different routes of application.

I have come across reports which claim that Magnesium can be absorbed through the skin via the transdermal route and can lead to increases in Magnesium levels - however, unfortunately this effect appears to be limited and not enough research has been done to show this effectively.

This article explains this:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

'Magnesium compounds are widely used as medicinal and dietary supplements. The effectiveness of oral magnesium supplementation for the treatment of magnesium deficiency is beyond controversy.'

'The primary function of the skin is to provide a barrier between the body and the external environment. This barrier protects against the permeation of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, chemicals, allergens and microorganisms, in addition to the loss of moisture and body nutrients. This means that the absorptive capacity of healthy skin for substances from the outside is very limited. This becomes evident particularly in the limited application for topical drugs.'

'Numerous studies demonstrate the effectiveness of oral therapeutic or preventive magnesium supplementation. Thus, an adequate magnesium supply is important for healthy pregnancy and lactation, as well as in patients with diabetes and pre-diabetes. Magnesium supplementation is also useful when taking drugs such as diuretics and proton pump inhibitors. Based on the current studies it is extremely alarming if a successful treatment of magnesium fails by propagation of transdermal magnesium, a scientifically not yet proven form of magnesium application. We suggest that future research should focus on a larger number of human subjects given higher concentrations of, for example, a magnesium cream application administered for longer durations to investigate whether transdermal application may show a significant contribution to improvement in magnesium status.'

So if you are using a Magnesium salt soak to soothe aches and pains and generally enjoy a bath, that's great, but if you use it primarily to increase your levels of Magnesium, you may perhaps be better off using an oral supplement, which will provide a more reliable intake of Magnesium.

[G2G2]

Thanks for posting. I've been using Mg transdermal because I wonder how much gets absorbed orally.

[Tina_Maria in reply to G2G2]

As with drugs, the oral method is the still the superior method for delivery. If you have severe absorption problems such as Coeliac disease , IBS or Crohn's, then your absorption of drugs and minerals may be diminished (but you should still absorb some), hence people with these problems tend to supplement with vitamins and minerals to make up for the diminished absorption.

There has been progress made in transdermal drug delivery, but most will use a specific carrier / delivery system and lipophilic (fat soluble) compounds for that. The skin has a lipid layer that needs to be penetrated in order for the compound to get through. Patches are available for hormones, nicotine and pain medications - but as mentioned, most have a specific delivery systems and are fat soluble compounds, which can cross the skin barrier.

Magnesium is not fat soluble and the skin has not got magnesium transporters to carry it across, so it will be difficult for the magnesium to penetrate through the skin. There are some small studies that show increased magnesium concentrations through soaking feet or having a bath - but these are far from conclusive and the increase in magnesium is marginal. Some of these applications can also irritate the skin in sensitive people, hence a good oral supplement with a good bioavailable Mg compound might be preferable.

[dinglebell in reply to Tina_Maria]

What about B12 patches, are they fat soluable?

[Tina_Maria in reply to dinglebell]

I am not familiar with B12 patches, but B12 is also a water soluble vitamin. Do you know what the patch consists of? Is there a specific delivery system?

[dinglebell in reply to Tina_Maria]

I ordered some on Amazon yesterday, then read your post and wondered, not sure about their delivery system, I will see when they come. Very interesting though, also as I am on hrt patches. Learning something new every day. Thank you.

[MaisieGray in reply to Tina_Maria]

"As with drugs, the oral method is the still the superior method for delivery." - not necessarily for all drugs for all patients, for all conditions. There are drugs which are better administered sublingually, buccally, intramuscularly, intravenously, by the eye or ear, rectally, by the vagina ........ the list goes on.

[Tina_Maria in reply to MaisieGray]

Yes of course you are absolutely right, I should have been more clear. I meant that as with SOME drugs, the oral method for Magnesium is still the superior method.

Bit of brain fog this morning... LOL

[MaisieGray in reply to Tina_Maria]

🙂

[dinglebell in reply to MaisieGray]

My Dr said hrt patches posed less risk (breast cancer) than oral hrt, she didn’t know why. Presumably the trans dermal is slow release? My theory!

[Tina_Maria in reply to dinglebell]

yes its a slower and more sustained release compared with oral ingestion and it bypasses the liver as well. But hormones are fat soluble substances which can cross the skin barrier, also the patches have a special delivery system, which helps the absorption through the skin. Magnesium is water soluble and cannot easily cross the skin barrier.

[G2G2 in reply to Tina_Maria]

Thanks for the great explanation. I've used topical MG for sore muscles & muscle cramps. It works for that. Does this mean that some is absorbed?

[Tina_Maria in reply to G2G2]

Apparently Magnesium is not much absorbed through the skin, so it is not very likely that enough may have passed through to alleviate the cramp / soreness. Could it be that the rubbing of the muscle helped to ease the symptoms rather than the absorption of Mg?

[G2G2 in reply to Tina_Maria]

Could be, but I don't think so because rubbing without Mg (times I've been out of it) doesn't help much.

[Saya85 in reply to G2G2]

I agree. I've tried massage without mag oil. Massage with diff oil and water.

Nothing beats the magensium spray. I think it depends on the type of mag spray you use too. The better you one for me absorbs brilliantly - maybe its to do with the type of salt

[G2G2 in reply to Saya85]

I use Life Flo since it's reportedly pure Mg. I contacted the company to find out if it was tested for contaminants & heavy metals. What do you use?

[Saya85 in reply to G2G2]

The 'better you' brand of magnesium oil

Zechstein compound. Others have tried a few different types but say 'better you' was better when they tried it

[G2G2 in reply to Saya85]

Life Flo is also Zechstein from seabeds in the Netherlands.

[Saya85 in reply to G2G2]

AHH brilliant

Glad it works for both of us then (!)

[G2G2 in reply to Saya85]

Yes! I'm not one to fly in the face of scientific evidence & I also take oral Mg, but Mg oil does help muscle cramps.

[Saya85 in reply to G2G2]

Yep.... It may not have been proven yet but it doesn't make it untrue.

I'm sure there will be a more extensive study at some point that will prove it too.

Even if it doesn't ..... If it works for me- I'll keep doing it 🙂

[G2G2 in reply to Saya85]

Me, too.

[Saya85]

Hi thanks for this

I'd say I agree and disagree equally

I do feel a steadier supply of oral magensium allows for higher doses and it may well be the type of magensium that has more effect. I found magensium citrate tabs taken orally will help better with constipation and other processes.

But I absolutely feel transdermal works far faster for muscle and nerve issues and cramps in specific areas.

Tablets may absorb better overall .... But the time it takes from taking a tablet to entering our bloodstream compared to transdermal...? I'm.not sure. Faster delivery Vs dosage absorption is where I agree and disagree -it depends what you need.

Also it mentions magensium creams but salt sprays work far faster and I personally feel the baths work more quickly with muscle aches and pains then the tablets do.

I guess the discrepancies have already been highlighted in your original post - many of these studies are too small to really be conclusive.

In the end I feel we end up doing what works for us best personally

I use a mixture (oral tabs to give me steady daily dose) but nothing beats a spray when I have specific or acute issues