Minerals

Essential inorganic nutrients. Form matters more here than in most categories — absorption varies several-fold between salts, and the tolerable upper limits are real.

30 entries

BoronA trace element found in fruit, vegetables and nuts, not established…Calcium carbonateThe cheapest and most concentrated calcium salt, supplying about 40%…Calcium citrateCalcium bound to citric acid, supplying about 21% elemental calcium…Calcium hydroxyapatite (MCHC)Calcium supplied in the mineral form found in bone, manufactured from…Chromium picolinateTrivalent chromium bound to picolinic acid, the most common…Colloidal and ionic trace mineralsLiquid concentrates of mixed minerals, typically derived from inland…Colloidal silverA suspension of silver particles or silver ions in water, sold as a…CopperAn essential trace mineral required for iron metabolism, connective…Electrolyte blendsPowders and tablets supplying sodium, potassium, magnesium and often…Iodine (potassium iodide)The supplemental form of iodine, an element required to make thyroid…Iron (ferrous sulfate)The standard, cheapest and best-studied iron salt, supplying about…Iron bisglycinateIron chelated to two glycine molecules, supplying about 20% elemental…Kelp (iodine supplement)Laminaria, Ascophyllum and related genera Lithium orotateLithium bound to orotic acid, sold over the counter at 1–20 mg of…Magnesium L-threonateMagnesium bound to L-threonic acid, a vitamin C metabolite, developed…Magnesium chlorideA highly soluble magnesium salt supplying about 12% elemental…Magnesium citrateMagnesium bound to citric acid, supplying around 16% elemental…Magnesium glycinate (bisglycinate)Magnesium chelated to two molecules of the amino acid glycine,…Magnesium malateMagnesium bound to malic acid, an intermediate in the citric acid…Magnesium oxideThe cheapest and most concentrated magnesium salt, supplying about…ManganeseAn essential trace mineral used by antioxidant and metabolic enzymes,…MolybdenumAn essential trace element serving as the cofactor for sulfite…PotassiumThe principal intracellular electrolyte, essential for nerve…SeleniumAn essential trace element incorporated into selenoproteins including…Silica (silicon)Silicon supplied as silica, as stabilised orthosilicic acid, or as…Strontium (citrate)A mineral chemically similar to calcium that deposits in bone.…VanadiumA trace element sold mainly as vanadyl sulfate for blood sugar and,…Zinc acetate lozengeA lozenge designed to release ionic zinc in the mouth and throat…Zinc gluconateZinc bound to gluconic acid, supplying about 13% elemental zinc. It…Zinc picolinateZinc bound to picolinic acid, a tryptophan metabolite, supplying…

Every entry rates its claims against the human research attached to them, and reports doses as what trials administered rather than as a recommendation. How we rate evidence.