Standard Process E-Z Mg™ Organic Vs. Standard Process Magnesium Lactate

Choosing a magnesium supplement can be hard. With a lot of products on the market, and a lot of confusing language around which formulation works best, it can feel overwhelming to settle on a supplement. Compare two leading magnesium products from Standard Process to learn the difference and find the right supplement for your lifestyle. 

The two products we’ll consider are Standard Process E-Z Mg ™ Organic and Standard Process Magnesium Lactate

Standard Process E-Z Mg ™ Organic vs. Standard Process Magnesium Lactate?

There are several key differences between Standard Process E-Z Mg ™ Organic and Standard Process Magnesium Lactate. While both of these supplements will help you raise your magnesium levels and can be used to correct a magnesium deficiency, the type of magnesium they contain is different. 

Standard Process Magnesium Lactate

Standard Process Magnesium Lactate contains a form of magnesium that is bound to lactic acid. Lactic acid is naturally produced in the body by muscle and blood cells, making it safe to consume. Magnesium lactate is commonly used to preserve and fortify foods and beverages, but it can also be used as a dietary supplement. 

Although less common than other forms of magnesium supplements such as magnesium oxide and magnesium citrate, magnesium lactate has several major benefits.

1. It’s easily absorbed by the digestive tract (over 40% of dietary magnesium is absorbed in the intestines).

2. It’s gentler on the stomach (digestive issues, specifically diarrhea is one of the most common side effects of magnesium supplements, due to magnesium’s laxative properties).

3. Magnesium lactate is generally well-tolerated by individuals who have trouble with other forms. This makes magnesium lactate a great choice for people who need to take large doses.  

Standard Process E-Z Mag ™ Organic

Unlike Magnesium Lactate, which contains a single form of magnesium, Standard Process E-Z Mag ™ contains multiple forms of magnesium derived from plant-based ingredients (about 66% buckwheat and  30% swiss chard according to Standard Process). You can learn more about E-Z Mg ™ here. 

Multiform magnesium has extremely high bioavailability, meaning the body absorbs it more easily than single form magnesium. In fact, a 2021 study found that multiform magnesium was more successful at boosting brain magnesium than three other kinds of single form magnesium. Using multiform magnesium can simplify the supplement choosing process for individuals who feel overwhelmed by the number of options on the market. 

Most magnesium per serving: Magnesium Lactate

Standard Process Magnesium Lactate supplies 210mg, or 50% daily value of magnesium. Meanwhile, Standard Process E-Z Mag ™ Organic only supplies 70mg or 17% daily value. 

However, more magnesium isn’t necessarily better. About 70% of the population only needs 17% DV magnesium to help close the nutrition gap. While overdosing on magnesium is rare (a condition called hypermagnesemia), it can lead to negative side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, and muscle weakness. In extreme cases, it can even lead to cardiac arrest. 

For the remaining 30% of the population who do need a higher magnesium content supplement to meet their needs, Magnesium Lactate may be a good choice. This is why we recommend you consult with a physician before making changes to your supplementation routine. 

Gentler on the digestive system: Tie

Compared to the most common forms of magnesium found in supplements, both Standard Process Magnesium Lactate and Standard Process E-Z Mag ™ Organic are fairly gentle on the digestive tract. While you might still experience the occasional stomach upset, these supplements are more well tolerated than comparable formulations such as magnesium oxide or magnesium citrate. 

If you need to take a large dose of magnesium and are concerned about stomach issues, Standard Process Magnesium Lactate might be the better choice. However, if you would prefer a supplement derived from whole food sources, E-Z Mag ™ would be the way to go. 

Better overall nutrition: E-Z Mg ™ Organic

Although it’s not a comprehensive multivitamin like Standard Process Catalyn®, E-Z Mg ™ does contain additional nutrients that help support the absorption of magnesium. 

In addition to 17% daily value of high-potency magnesium, E-Z Mg ™ contains: 

• 30% daily value of Vitamin K1
• 33% daily value of Iron
• 7% daily value of Potassium
• 2% daily value of Calcium
• 2% daily value of Phosphorus

While this might seem like a better deal on the surface, E-Z Mg’s ™ broader nutrition profile may cause issues if you are already taking supplements that include these nutrients. If you’re just looking for a basic magnesium supplements and/or you’re already taking an iron supplement or a Vitamin K supplement, Standard Process Magnesium Lactate might be a better choice. 

Best Overall Price: Magnesium Lactate

If you’re looking to save money in the short term, you might consider Standard Process Magnesium Lactate, 90 capsules (available in our online shop for $35.75).  

Highest bioavailability: E-Z Mg ™ Organic

As a multiform magnesium supplement, Standard Process E-Z Mg ™ has higher bioavailability than many single form magnesium options. That means: the body is better able to absorb and use the magnesium found in E-Z Mg ™ than in supplements that contain a single form.

However, it should be noted that in the comparison study, E-Z Mg ™ was tested against magnesium threonate, magnesium glycinate, and magnesium citrate, but not magnesium lactate, so it’s unclear how much bioavailability differs between Standard Process Magnesium Lactate and Standard Process E-Z Mg ™.

Vegan-Friendly: E-Z Mg ™ Organic

If you’re looking for a vegan-friendly magnesium supplement, E-Z Mg ™ is the way to go. Manufactured without animal products or byproducts like gelatin, E-Z Mg ™ is both vegetarian and vegan friendly.

Easy to follow dosage: Magnesium Lactate

If you’re someone who has trouble keeping track of dosages or remembering to take your supplements, you might consider taking Standard Process Magnesium Lactate, which has a recommended daily serving size of 3 capsules. In comparison, the recommended daily serving size for E-Z Mg ™ is 6 tablets.