Why Magnesium Should Be in Your Child’s Multivitamin (and Why Many Brands Skip It)
If you’ve ever checked the ingredient list on your child’s multivitamin, you might have noticed something missing: magnesium. Despite being essential for activating key vitamins like B6 and D, many brands leave it out. At Little Boosties, we made sure to include magnesium citrate in our Superfood Boosties because it plays a critical role in making sure your child actually absorbs and benefits from these essential nutrients.
But why do so many other brands skip it? And what does that mean for your child’s health? Let’s break it down.
Magnesium: The Missing Link for B6 and D Activation
Magnesium isn’t just another nutrient—it’s a cofactor for over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body, including the activation of Vitamin B6 and Vitamin D.
- For B6: Magnesium is required for the enzyme pyridoxal kinase, which converts B6 into its active form (P5P), the version your child’s body actually uses.
- For Vitamin D: Magnesium is necessary for the hydroxylation process that converts Vitamin D2 into its active form, helping regulate calcium absorption and bone health.
If a multivitamin contains B6 and D but no magnesium, your child may not be absorbing or utilizing these vitamins properly.
Why Most Multivitamins Skip Magnesium
If magnesium is so important, why do so many brands leave it out? The answer comes down to formulation challenges.
- It’s Hard to Work With in Gummies – Magnesium is a bulky mineral, meaning it takes up a lot of space in a formula. In gummies, where every milligram counts, it’s often left out to make room for other ingredients.
- It Can Affect Taste and Texture – Some forms of magnesium can be bitter or gritty, which can ruin the texture of a gummy.
- It’s Expensive – High-quality, well-absorbed forms of magnesium cost more, and many brands opt for cheaper, easier-to-formulate alternatives.
At Little Boosties, we didn’t cut corners. We chose magnesium citrate because it’s well-absorbed and works as an essential cofactor for the B6 and D in Superfood Boosties—ensuring your child gets the full benefit of these nutrients.
Why Your Child Needs Magnesium More Than Ever
Even if your child eats a relatively healthy diet, they still may not be getting enough magnesium. Over the last 100 years, the magnesium content in fruits and vegetables has dropped significantly due to soil depletion. Modern farming practices have stripped the soil of essential minerals, meaning even magnesium-rich foods don’t have as much of this crucial nutrient as they used to.
That’s another reason why including magnesium in a daily multivitamin is more important than ever.
Making Sure Your Child Gets What They Need
If your child’s multivitamin doesn’t contain magnesium, they may not be fully absorbing key nutrients like B6 and D. This is why we included magnesium citrate in Superfood Boosties, making it one of the few children’s gummies that ensures proper activation of these vital vitamins.
When choosing a multivitamin, always check the label. A great formula isn’t just about what’s included—it’s about what actually works together.