Albion® Calcium-Magnesium Malate: DimaCal® & DiMag™ Research

Key Takeaways

• DimaCal® is Albion®'s branded calcium malate ingredient for supplement formulations.

• DiMag™ is Albion®'s branded magnesium malate ingredient for supplement formulations.

• A 2006 human study compared dicalcium malate with other calcium sources. It found no significant differences in the area under the serum calcium concentration-time curve.

• The 2018 Scottsdale Magnesium Study investigated MagSRT™, a timed-release supplement containing dimagnesium malate and vitamins B6, B12, and folate.

• EFSA's evaluations provide scientific and regulatory context for dicalcium malate and dimagnesium malate, but do not establish that these branded ingredients are clinically superior to other mineral sources.

• When choosing a supplement, consider its elemental mineral content, overall formulation, and supporting evidence.
  
  

Calcium and magnesium are essential minerals that support numerous physiological functions. Calcium contributes to the maintenance of bones and teeth, while magnesium supports normal muscle and nerve function, energy metabolism, and bone health. The forms of these minerals used in supplements are an important consideration when evaluating ingredient quality and formulation.

Albion® offers branded mineral ingredients, including DimaCal® calcium malate and DiMag™ magnesium malate, for use in nutritional supplements.

But what does the scientific literature show about calcium malate and magnesium malate? This article examines human research, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) evaluations, and the evidence relevant to these mineral forms.

For a broader overview of Albion® mineral technology, chelation, and ingredient quality, explore our guide to The Power of Albion Minerals.

What Are DimaCal® and DiMag™?

DimaCal® and DiMag™ are branded mineral ingredients associated with Albion®'s mineral ingredient portfolio. Both involve malate mineral chemistry, in which a mineral is associated with malate, a form related to malic acid.

For a closer look at their ingredient technology and formulation characteristics, explore our guide to Albion® calcium-magnesium malate ingredient technology.

DimaCal®: Calcium Malate

DimaCal® is a calcium malate ingredient intended for supplement formulations that provide calcium.

Calcium is essential for maintaining bones and teeth. It also supports normal muscle contraction, nerve transmission, and other physiological processes. Adequate calcium intake is important throughout life, including during periods of bone growth and later adulthood.

When evaluating a calcium supplement, consider the amount of elemental calcium it provides, the overall formulation, and the evidence available for its calcium source.

Research involving dicalcium malate can help inform an understanding of this mineral form, although findings should be interpreted according to the specific ingredient and formulation studied.

DiMag™: Magnesium Malate

DiMag™ is a magnesium malate ingredient intended for supplement formulations that provide magnesium.

Magnesium contributes to normal muscle and nerve function, energy metabolism, protein synthesis, and the maintenance of normal bones. It also participates in numerous enzymatic processes throughout the body.

When evaluating a magnesium supplement, distinguish the amount of elemental magnesium from the total weight of the mineral compound. These values are not interchangeable because the compound includes components other than magnesium.

Research involving magnesium malate offers useful context, but the results of a finished supplement study may also reflect its delivery system and other ingredients.

DimaCal® Research: What Does the Calcium Bioavailability Study Show?

One relevant human study was published by Chaturvedi and colleagues in 2006. The researchers compared calcium absorption from four calcium-containing products in healthy adults.

The products included dicalcium malate, two calcium amino acid chelate preparations with different calcium concentrations, and calcium carbonate.

Participants received a single dose containing 900 mg of elemental calcium. The researchers evaluated serum calcium measurements to compare the products' absorption profiles.

Summary of the 2006 Human Study

What Were the Findings?

The researchers reported no statistically significant differences in the area under the curve (AUC) for serum calcium among the four products. AUC represents the overall exposure measured across the sampling period.

Differences were observed in other pharmacokinetic measures, including maximum serum calcium concentration, time to maximum concentration, and elimination half-life.

These results illustrate why bioavailability should not be judged using a single measurement. Different absorption-related measures can produce different comparisons, depending on the study design and outcomes assessed.

The study provides human evidence comparing dicalcium malate with several other calcium sources. However, it does not demonstrate that dicalcium malate is universally more absorbable or more effective for long-term bone health.

The publication also disclosed sponsorship by Albion Advanced Nutrition. This information should be considered when evaluating the findings alongside other evidence.

What Does This Mean for DimaCal®?

The study provides useful context for understanding human bioavailability research involving dicalcium malate. It does not, by itself, establish the clinical superiority of DimaCal® as a branded ingredient.

For consumers comparing calcium supplements, elemental calcium content, the overall formulation, and the quality of supporting evidence are important considerations.

EFSA Evaluation of Dicalcium Malate

In 2018, EFSA's Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food published a scientific opinion evaluating dicalcium malate as a proposed novel food ingredient and source of calcium.

The assessment considered its proposed uses in foods, food supplements, total diet replacement products for weight control, and foods for special medical purposes. It also examined the available evidence on calcium bioavailability and safety.

EFSA concluded that the available evidence did not establish a scientific difference between the proposed dicalcium malate ingredient and calcium malate already authorized as a calcium source. The panel considered that calcium would be available following ingestion if dicalcium malate dissociated, with bioavailability appearing similar to that reported for other permitted calcium sources.

However, EFSA also concluded that the information available was insufficient to assess the safety of the proposed ingredient as a novel food ingredient. The panel could not reliably calculate exposure based on the proposed uses and use levels.

What this means: EFSA's findings provide regulatory context for calcium malate and its potential use as a calcium source. They should not be interpreted as proof that DimaCal® is safer or more effective than other calcium ingredients.

DiMag™ Research: What Does the Scottsdale Magnesium Study Show?

The Scottsdale Magnesium Study, published in 2018 by Weiss, Brunk, and Goodman, investigated the absorption, cellular uptake, and clinical effects of a timed-release magnesium supplement in adults.

The researchers evaluated MagSRT™, a timed-release supplement containing dimagnesium malate along with vitamins B6, B12, and folate. The study therefore provides evidence about a combination formulation rather than dimagnesium malate alone.

Summary of the Scottsdale Magnesium Study

What Did the Researchers Observe?

The study reported increases in red blood cell (RBC) magnesium following supplementation with MagSRT™. The intervention group also reported improvements in scores from a magnesium-status questionnaire.

Among participants who continued the intervention, the researchers reported a larger increase in RBC magnesium at 90 days than at 30 days. The formulation was also reported to be well tolerated by most participants in the intervention group.

These findings contribute to the research on magnesium supplementation. However, the intervention included additional vitamins and a timed-release delivery system, so the results cannot be attributed exclusively to dimagnesium malate.

What Does This Mean for DiMag™?

The Scottsdale Magnesium Study offers human evidence involving a finished supplement containing dimagnesium malate. It is useful background for understanding the broader research on magnesium malate.

However, it should not be described as a direct clinical trial proving the independent effects of Albion® DiMag™. Establishing ingredient-specific effects would require evidence that directly evaluates the ingredient under appropriate study conditions.

For consumers, the study highlights the importance of considering the complete formulation, including the magnesium source, delivery system, and accompanying nutrients.

EFSA Evaluation of Dimagnesium Malate

EFSA also published a scientific opinion in 2018 evaluating dimagnesium malate as a proposed novel food ingredient and source of magnesium.

The assessment considered the available evidence on safety, proposed uses, and magnesium bioavailability.

EFSA concluded that the available evidence did not establish a scientific difference between the proposed dimagnesium malate ingredient and magnesium malate already authorized as a magnesium source. The panel considered that magnesium would be available following ingestion if the compound dissociated, with availability appearing similar to that reported for other permitted magnesium sources.

However, the assessment had important limitations. EFSA could not adequately evaluate the compound's dissociation based on the information submitted, and the available information was insufficient to assess the safety of the proposed ingredient as a novel food ingredient.

The panel also noted that proposed use levels could lead to supplemental magnesium intakes exceeding the applicable upper level of 250 mg per day considered in that assessment.

This upper level relates to supplemental magnesium and should not be interpreted as a limit on magnesium naturally present in foods. Applicable guidance and recommendations may also differ by jurisdiction and population.

What this means: EFSA's opinion provides scientific and regulatory context for dimagnesium malate. It does not establish that DiMag™ produces superior absorption, better tolerance, or improved clinical outcomes compared with other magnesium sources.

Why Mineral Form Matters When Choosing Supplements

The form of a mineral is one factor to consider when selecting a supplement. Ingredient choice can affect the amount of elemental mineral supplied and how the finished product is formulated.

Several factors can help consumers evaluate calcium and magnesium supplements.

1. Elemental Mineral Content

The weight of a mineral compound is not the same as the amount of elemental calcium or magnesium it supplies. Check the elemental mineral content per serving to understand how much of the mineral the supplement provides.

2. Overall Formulation

A supplement contains more than its featured mineral ingredient. Serving size, dosage form, accompanying nutrients, and delivery system can all be relevant when evaluating a finished product.

3. Evidence Supporting the Product

Research should be interpreted according to what was actually tested. Evidence involving a mineral compound, a branded ingredient, and a finished supplement represents different levels of specificity.

4. Safety and Intended Use

Safety depends on the ingredient, dose, target population, and total intake. Consider supplemental intake alongside dietary sources and applicable guidance. If you have a medical condition or take medication, consult a qualified healthcare professional about whether a supplement is appropriate for you.

5. Quality of the Supporting Evidence

Human studies, systematic reviews, and regulatory assessments answer different questions. A human study may investigate a particular outcome, while a regulatory assessment may focus on safety, exposure, and bioavailability.

Considering these factors together provides a more useful basis for evaluating mineral supplements than relying on broad claims that one mineral form is always better than another.

DimaCal® vs. DiMag™: Understanding Their Roles

DimaCal® and DiMag™ serve different purposes because they supply different essential minerals.

These ingredients are not interchangeable. The appropriate choice depends on which mineral a supplement is intended to provide, the amount per serving, the overall formulation, and the evidence supporting its claims.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is DimaCal®?

DimaCal® is Albion®'s branded calcium malate ingredient for use in nutritional supplement formulations. Its role is to provide calcium as part of a finished product.

What is DiMag™?

DiMag™ is Albion®'s branded magnesium malate ingredient for use in nutritional supplement formulations. It is intended to provide magnesium as part of a finished supplement.

Is calcium malate better absorbed than calcium carbonate?

The available evidence does not justify a blanket claim that calcium malate is always better absorbed than calcium carbonate. The 2006 human comparison reported no significant differences in AUC among the tested calcium sources, although other serum concentration measures differed.

Does the Scottsdale Magnesium Study prove that DiMag™ improves magnesium status?

No. The study evaluated MagSRT™, a timed-release formulation containing dimagnesium malate and vitamins B6, B12, and folate. Its findings cannot be attributed to DiMag™ alone.

Did EFSA establish that DimaCal® and DiMag™ are superior to other mineral sources?

No. EFSA's evaluations addressed proposed ingredients, safety considerations, and mineral bioavailability. They did not establish clinical superiority for these branded ingredients.

Why should I check elemental mineral content?

The total weight of a mineral compound does not equal its elemental mineral content. Checking the amount of elemental calcium or magnesium per serving helps you understand how much of the mineral the supplement provides.

Final Thoughts

DimaCal® and DiMag™ offer calcium malate and magnesium malate options for nutritional supplements. Research on these mineral forms provides insight into bioavailability, while EFSA evaluations offer additional scientific context.

When choosing a supplement, consider its elemental mineral content, overall formulation, and the evidence supporting its claims. Understanding these factors can help you make more informed decisions about calcium and magnesium supplementation.

At Just Glow, we believe science-backed ingredients and evidence-based nutrition are the foundation of long-term wellness. Our approach is to focus on thoughtfully formulated ingredients, transparent sourcing, and practical, evidence-based information to help support informed supplement choices.