What is Magnesium Gluconate Used For?
Magnesium gluconate (CAS 3632-91-5) is an organic magnesium salt formed by combining magnesium with gluconic acid. It is one of the most bioavailable and well-tolerated magnesium forms on the market, widely used in dietary supplements, sports nutrition, functional beverage formulations, and electrolyte products. The gluconate anion improves magnesium solubility across the gastrointestinal pH range, resulting in better absorption than inorganic forms such as magnesium oxide or magnesium carbonate, while producing significantly less laxative effect than magnesium sulfate at equivalent elemental doses.
WIS Biotech has manufactured food-grade and feed-grade magnesium gluconate since 2015 at its Shandong, China production complex. Our 10,000 m² facility operates at 60,000 MT/year total gluconate capacity, serving supplement brands, functional food producers, and feed premix compounders in more than 80 countries. Our vertically integrated process — from gluconic acid fermentation through to finished mineral salts — ensures batch-to-batch consistency and supply reliability for demanding B2B procurement programs.
Key Applications
Sports Nutrition and Electrolyte Products
Magnesium is essential for neuromuscular function, energy metabolism, and protein synthesis — making magnesium gluconate a preferred mineral form in sports nutrition. Its excellent water solubility enables clear-solution beverage applications without precipitate, a key advantage over magnesium oxide. It is formulated into isotonic electrolyte sachets, recovery drinks, pre-workout powders, and hydration tablets alongside potassium gluconate and sodium sources. WIS Biotech supplies sports nutrition brands and co-manufacturers in North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia seeking clean-label, organic mineral sources for premium hydration product lines.
Dietary Supplements
Magnesium deficiency is one of the most prevalent micronutrient shortfalls in modern diets. Magnesium gluconate occupies a distinct supplement niche: good bioavailability, high solubility, and a low laxative effect at standard dosing levels — characteristics making it suitable for sensitive consumers, children’s supplements, and elderly formulations. Compared to magnesium glycinate or taurate, it provides a competitive cost-performance balance for mainstream brands. WIS Biotech’s food-grade magnesium gluconate is used by contract manufacturers producing capsules, tablets, gummies, and powder sticks across major global supplement markets.
Food Fortification and Functional Foods
Magnesium gluconate is an approved food additive (EU E580, GRAS in USA, China GB 2760) used to fortify functional beverages, dairy products, meal replacements, and nutritional bars. Its neutral taste and clean-label positioning suit products marketed around mineral replenishment, stress support, and sleep quality — categories growing rapidly in Western and Asian consumer markets. WIS Biotech’s food-grade magnesium gluconate meets E580 and JECFA purity requirements across all of these regulated food matrix applications.
Animal Feed and Ruminant Nutrition
Magnesium is a critical macro-mineral in ruminant nutrition; hypomagnesemia (grass tetany) is a well-documented, economically significant production disease in dairy and beef cattle. Feed-grade magnesium gluconate provides a highly bioavailable, palatable magnesium source for mineral licks, top-dressings, and ruminant premixes. In poultry and swine nutrition, magnesium contributes to bone development, muscle function, and productive performance. WIS Biotech’s FAMI-QS certified feed-grade magnesium gluconate is produced on a dedicated feed line and exported to premix manufacturers across Europe, the Gulf, and Southeast Asia.
Product Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| CAS Number | 3632-91-5 |
| Molecular Formula | C12H22MgO14 |
| Molecular Weight | 450.64 g/mol |
| Assay (dried basis) | 98.0% – 102.0% |
| Magnesium (Mg) Content | 4.8% – 5.0% |
| Appearance | White to off-white fine powder |
| Solubility | Freely soluble in water |
| pH (5% solution) | 6.0 – 7.5 |
| Loss on Drying | 2.0% max |
| Heavy Metals (as Pb) | 20 ppm max |
| Arsenic (As) | 3 ppm max |
| Lead (Pb) | 2 ppm max |
| Available Grades | Food Grade (E580/JECFA), Feed Grade (FAMI-QS) |
Packaging & Supply
Magnesium gluconate is available in 25 kg net multi-layer kraft paper bags with inner PE liner, or 500 kg / 1,000 kg FIBCs (ton bags). Nitrogen-flush packaging available on request. Storage: below 30°C, dry and well-ventilated, away from direct sunlight.
MOQ: 500 kg. Standard 20-foot FCL at 10–18 MT. Terms: FOB Qingdao (standard); CIF, CFR, DDP available for established accounts. Lead time: 7–14 business days from order confirmation. Samples (1–5 kg) dispatched by DHL/FedEx within 3–5 business days for qualification trials.
Quality & Compliance
WIS Biotech’s magnesium gluconate production is covered under the following active certification programs:
- ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management System covering procurement, in-process control, and final QC release
- FSSC 22000 – Food Safety System Certification (GFSI-recognized); governs food-grade production lines
- Halal – IFANCA – Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America; valid for export to Muslim-majority markets globally
- Kosher – OU – Orthodox Union; required for US specialty retail and export to Israel
- FAMI-QS – Feed Additive and Premixture Quality System (feed-grade lines only)
WIS Biotech does not produce pharmaceutical-grade (USP/BP/EP) material. Products are intended for food, feed, and industrial use. Every shipment includes CoA, SDS, and origin documentation. Health Certificates, Fumigation Certificates, and ASEAN Form E available on request.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does magnesium gluconate compare to magnesium citrate?
Both are organic, well-absorbed magnesium forms. Magnesium gluconate contains approximately 5% elemental magnesium vs. ~16% for citrate — requiring a higher gram-weight dose for equivalent elemental delivery. However, magnesium gluconate is associated with a notably lower laxative effect at equivalent elemental doses — a meaningful advantage for daily supplement use, elderly consumers, and sensitive digestive systems where bowel tolerance limits citrate dosing flexibility.
What elemental magnesium content does WIS Biotech guarantee?
Our specification guarantees 4.8%–5.0% elemental magnesium (Mg) on an as-is basis, assay 98.0%–102.0% dried basis per E580/JECFA methods. Each batch CoA confirms magnesium content alongside all purity parameters. Formulation guidance on grams of magnesium gluconate per elemental magnesium dose target is available from our technical sales team on request.
Is magnesium gluconate suitable for clear beverage formulations?
Yes. Magnesium gluconate has excellent water solubility across pH 3.0–8.0, making it compatible with acidic and neutral beverage systems including sports drinks, flavored water, and liquid meal replacements. Unlike magnesium oxide or hydroxide, it does not cloud or precipitate out of solution. WIS Biotech can provide solubility data and formulation guidance for R&D qualification projects on request.
What is the MOQ and lead time for magnesium gluconate?
MOQ is 500 kg. FCL orders typically ship at 10–14 MT per 20-foot container. Sample quantities (1–5 kg) are dispatched within 3–5 business days by international courier for laboratory trials. Blanket purchase orders with monthly call-off schedules can be arranged for high-volume contract buyers to streamline procurement workflows.
Is magnesium gluconate permitted in the EU as a food additive?
Yes. Magnesium gluconate is approved as E580 under EU Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. It is also GRAS-affirmed in the USA and permitted under China GB 2760. WIS Biotech’s food-grade product meets relevant EU purity criteria and ships with CoA and origin documentation required for EU customs clearance.
Do Halal and Kosher certificates cover magnesium gluconate?
Yes. Both IFANCA Halal and OU Kosher certificates explicitly cover magnesium gluconate produced at our Shandong facility. Current certificates are available on our Downloads page. For MUI (Indonesia), JAKIM (Malaysia), or other country-specific Halal requirements, contact us to discuss options and timelines.
Related Resources
- Magnesium Gluconate vs. Magnesium Citrate: A Formulator’s Comparison
- Sourcing Gluconate from China: A Buyer’s Checklist
For construction admixture chemicals, visit our group company Definly Chemicals — PCE superplasticizer raw material manufacturer.
Related Products
Customers ordering magnesium gluconate also frequently source Zinc Gluconate and Potassium Gluconate for complete multi-mineral electrolyte formulations.
About WIS Biotech
WIS Biotech is a dedicated gluconate ingredient manufacturer founded in 2015, headquartered in Shandong Province, China. Our 10,000 m² production facility delivers a combined annual output of 60,000 MT across eight mineral gluconate and specialty ingredient products. With a 90% export ratio and active customer relationships in over 80 countries, WIS Biotech is one of China’s leading direct-manufacturer gluconate suppliers. We are part of a group that includes Definly Chemicals, our export trading and construction chemicals affiliate. Learn more about our group structure.