10 Sep 2024 --- Lubrizol Life Science unveils a prototype formulation with the company’s Magshape microencapsulated magnesium ingredient in a “melt-in-your-mouth” powdered stick for on-the-go post-workout convenience. The orosoluble sticks deliver a dose of 250 mg of elemental magnesium in a 1.5 g powder sachet. This dose is the upper limit in a food supplement recommended by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).Â

Magnesium is increasingly popular among consumers as a “mindfulness mineral,” but they seek a more palatable form for their daily boost. The new prototype presents an opportunity to use the ingredient in a format other than tablets and chewables.Â

Isabel Gómez, global marketing manager for Lubrizol Life Science's nutraceutical business, tells Nutrition Insight that consumers struggle to get the recommended daily dose of magnesium through the diet, which is where supplementation steps in. By conducting consumer research, the company found that consumers may still need to consume large quantities of magnesium supplements that "are not easily mixable in their preferred format."

"After understanding the need for magnesium supplementation, we realized that with the microencapsulation expertise we already have for other minerals such as iron, we could do something about it."

"We focus on enabling a highly concentrated source of magnesium that is also directly compressible in a way that a formulator, for example, can come up with a smaller pill because the product is highly concentrated and needs a minimal amount of excipients," she explains.

Gómez highlights that in addition to high magnesium concentration, Lubrizol Life Science focused on the orosoluble powder's flowability and texture to offer consumers a "more tasty, convenient experience with their nutraceutical product."

The proprietary microencapsulation technology in the Magshape ingredient provides micronized magnesium oxide particles -- the most concentrated form of magnesium -- with a wider surface area.

The orosoluble sticks deliver a dose of 250 mg of elemental magnesium in a 1.5 g powder sachet that can be mixed in drinks.Lubrizol Life Science notes that the technology helps to deliver a stable source of magnesium, which is more slowly absorbed by the intestinal tract and thus reduces common unpleasant side effects associated with magnesium supplementation, such as gut discomfort.

According to Gómez, consumers also complain about magnesium's taste. "It seems that some people still struggle with a taste, whether metallic or a taste they don't appreciate, especially in these powders or gummies. We realize we also need to make sure the product tastes great."

Magshape also allows for versatile and more appealing consumer formats. Manufacturers can incorporate it in various food matrices due to its fluid consistency and water-dispersible coating.

"Orosoluble powders that can deliver uniform palatable doses of magnesium require significant expertise to develop successfully," adds Alan Connolly, R&D manager at Lubrizol Life Science. "It involves striking the right balance between particle size, solubility, taste and flowability. Too large a particle size will result in poor dispersion in the mouth, leading to a gritty, unpleasant texture. However, even the smallest particle will not behave as expected if it displays poor orosolubility."

EFSA has authorized health claims for magnesium's role in normal energy-yielding metabolism, reduced tiredness, electrolyte balance, regular nervous system functioning, muscle function, protein synthesis, psychological function, cell division and maintaining normal bones and teeth.

Magnesium is becoming an essential mineral, underscores Gómez. "Regarding health benefits, we always want to bring our data to validate that science. For example, we understand the importance or connection with stress relief and muscle relaxation with magnesium. With our Magshape, we made sure we conducted in vitro tests."

Lubrizol Life Science's in vitro research finds that Magshape supports stress relief and muscle relaxation post-workout.One study examined whether Magshape could inhibit noradrenaline. "The research used a phorbol ester, a molecule that potentiates the release of noradrenaline, which is linked to stress. We determined that our product inhibits this neurotransmission associated with stress. We can say that this product supports stress relief."

"We did another one to understand muscle relaxation," she continues. "In this case, we took myoblast cells or muscle cells and induced them to have cramps or electric stimulation."

"We realized that those cells treated with our product were not entering into tetanic contraction, which happens when someone does sports and has cramps. We realized that with our Magshape, we could inhibit that contraction of the muscles, which enables a better recovery and relaxation post-workout."

She adds that the company's microencapsulation technique supports "gradual assimilation throughout the entire digestive system so that more gets into the bloodstream to help replenish and maintain healthy magnesium levels in human cells and bones."

In addition, Gómez asserts that a bioavailability study is in the pipeline to confirm Magshape's bioactivity in the body.