One of the most impactful nutrients is magnesium, but many consumers do not understand how to measure their needs in this area. There are a wave of personalized vitamin brands that can complete a custom assessment of vitamin needs, including magnesium. Digital survey tools developed by personalized vitamin companies will collect information about diet, fitness, health, medications, demographics, and lifestyle.
This data will be analyzed and the consumer will receive a custom set of recommendations for their profile. Oftentimes, this is the easiest way to move past the confusion of the vitamin aisles and find a targeted solution.
We could not complete a discussion about fatigue and energy without mentioning magnesium. This wonderful electrolyte is essential to just about every aspect of our bodily functions. It is the gateway to our cells doing their jobs. For example, muscle cells (including the heart) use magnesium to perform their tasks and feed energy at a cellular level. Not surprisingly then, being low on magnesium can cause all sorts of problems.
Magnesium is found in many common foods, including spinach, legumes, and nuts. However, many of us do not have enough circulating magnesium. Even if we take in a lot of it, we lose it through sweat and other bodily losses. For this reason, we believe that magnesium supplements (in those who do not have kidney disease and have trouble balancing it) can play a very useful role in helping to maintain your energy. They are particularly helpful if you exercise and lose valuable electrolytes, because magnesium also helps the body hold onto potassium (another electrolyte important to cellular function).
The imperative is clear to get the right amount of magnesium for your needs, and the starting point is a personalized vitamin assessment. However, not all vitamin personalized assessments are created equal. You should look for an assessment that has been developed and validated by physicians.
You should look for an assessment that promotes coordination with your primary care physician, rather than preempting their advice with contrary recommendations. One indicator of physician involvement is whether they have physicians on the management team as opposed to a scientific advisory board. Those advisory boards are often arms-length relationships, where clinicians are asked their opinion 1 or 2 times per year, and do not have clear accountability for what actually goes into the products.
It is also important for the consumer to look for trust factors like whether the company has been in continuous operations for a period of time. While the personalized vitamin industry is young, there are companies with track records of 5 or greater years of serving the market. The savvy shopper will also look for marks of “Made in the USA” and “Good Manufacturing Practices.”
Once a company is selected, make sure that they provide a report with your specific information, including recommended magnesium levels. Incorporating personalized recommendations into a daily vitamin routine is a step in the right direction.
