NEEDS Staff Pick – Magnesium for Muscle Pain

By Carol Blair, DS, DiHom, CNC, Wellness Educator

One product that I find to be very effective is Jigsaw magnesium. It was developed specifically for muscle pain and especially for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, etc.  Of course, the magnesium also has beneficial effects for the cardiovascular system and reducing insomnia.

The dosage is four (fairly small) tablets, to provide 500 mg of Albion chelated magnesium in sustained-release form, to reduce the risks of diarrhea and provide more sustained muscle pain relief. Jigsaw magnesium also contains 1,550 mg of malic acid in the form of dimagnesium malate.  This form of magnesium helps the magnesium get into the muscles better making it ideal for the indications above.

There is also a small amount (200 mcg) of 5-MTHF, the active form of folate that helps support methylation and also supports the functions of another cofactor, B6; magnesium does not work without B6. The bioavailable form, P-5-P (5 mg), is being used and this plays a role in dopamine and serotonin production.

These bioavailable forms are especially important when the liver isn’t functioning up to par or for certain genotypes who cannot convert them to the active forms.