Understanding Mineral Weights: Elemental vs. Compound

Minerals play crucial roles in our health and support various physiological functions, making them a popular supplement for those looking to support their wellbeing. If you’re diving into the world of supplements, you might have stumbled across the puzzling terms “elemental” and “compound” weights. Let's clear up this confusion so that you can make informed choices about your health. 
 

What is the difference between elemental and compound weight?  

To ensure stable and absorbable minerals such as magnesium, iron, iodine, zinc and selenium they must be bound to another organic compound in a process called chelation. Sounds fancy, right? This simply means that the mineral is bound to another substance, acting as a carrier. Once the mineral is bound to its carrier you have produced a compound. 
 

• Compound weight: This is the total weight of the mineral and the organic compound bound together. 
• Elemental weight: This is the pure, unadulterated weight of the mineral, stripped of any carrier. This is where the nutritious value resides.  

In other words, it would look like this: 

Mineral (elemental weight) + organic compound = compound weight 
You may have heard of some of these compounds. Such as calcium carbonate or magnesium citrate. These are the results of minerals reacting with other substances. Like magnesium reacting with citric acid to form magnesium citrate.  
 

Should I look at elemental or compound weight?  

When the dust settles, it’s the elemental weight that deserves your attention. Only the elemental level will provide nutritious value. Compound weight can be a bit of a trickster since it varies depending on the weight of the organic companion. So, comparing magnesium citrate to magnesium oxide? Well, that’s like comparing apples to oranges, each has its own unique weight! To understand which option provides the most magnesium, you need the elemental level.  

At Nature’s Best, we’re all about clarity, which is why we only display the elemental level of our minerals on the label. After all, by quoting the compound level of a particular mineral it can make the supplement appear much more potent than it actually is. 

So, next time you’re comparing minerals, remember it’s elemental weight that holds the key to your health. 

If you have any questions, contact our expert Nutrition Advisors, who are happy to help.