Magnesium Malate vs. Magnesium Stearate: Benefits, Uses & Differences

Magnesium stearate and magnesium malate are both used in medicine but in different ways. Magnesium stearate is also known as octadecanoic acid; another name for magnesium malate is malic acid.

Description

• Magnesium malate, an easily-absorbed form of magnesium typically sold in pill form, is the magnesium salt of malic acid. Magnesium stearate, a salt derived from magnesium and stearic acid, is an ingredient of magnesium malate.

Properties

• Both magnesium stearate and magnesium malate appear as a white powder. The former is a type of fatty acid whereas the latter is a natural fruit acid.

Chemistry

• The chemical formula for magnesium stearate is C36H70MgO4. The chemical formula for magnesium malate is C4H4MgO5 . Both contain carbon, hydrogen, magnesium, and oxygen.

Uses

• Magnesium malate is used to treat fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Both may indicate magnesium deficiency. Magnesium stearate is used as a filler in medications and is found in magnesium malate tablets. Magnesium stearate is also used to bind the sugar in hard candy like PEZ.

Fun Fact

• Magnesium stearate is a component of "bathtub rings," formed when calcium or magnesium combines with soap particles.