Are chelated minerals better than other kinds?
Obtaining sufficient essential minerals is vital for our health and wellness, yet some people do not get enough from diet alone. Most mineral supplements occur as compounds, such as magnesium citrate or calcium carbonate--and each mineral may appear in several different forms. Some dietary supplement manufacturers sell "chelated" minerals, which they claim are better absorbed by the body.

What does the term "chelated" mean when used to describe a mineral supplement?
Chelated basically means "firmly attached", usually to an amino acid or other organic component so that the two do not disassociate in the digestive system.

Are chelated compounds better than other forms of minerals--such as carbonates or citrates or ascorbates?
Yes, for many minerals, a chelated compound is better than some other forms.

What are the other kinds of molecules or compounds--and their implications for bioavailability?
Both calcium and magnesium are examples where "chelated forms" are very little if any better absorbed. Inorganic compounds of both calcium and magnesium, say calcium carbonate and magnesium oxide, are easily separated and the calcium and magnesium ions are well absorbed--unless you are aged or otherwise have insufficient stomach acids (or take antacids every time you eat).

On the other hand, selenium is well absorbed in both its inorganic forms sodium selenite and sodium selenate, but these have somewhat different effects on the body than the equally well absorbed chelated forms. In this case, therefore, it is prudent to take some of each.

How are products manufactured to promote chelation?
The industrial manufacturing process of Chelation is very expensive and painstakingly laborious. With lesser manufacturers, sometimes only half of the minerals by weight which are put through the process ever really get chelated properly. The assertion, then, made by some that only half of "chelated minerals" ever get absorbed stems from the reason that only half of these prepared minerals were ever really chelated in the first place. It has nothing to do with the bioavailability of chelation.

Thus, the criticisms leveled against chelated complexes are based on a misstatement of the facts, inappropriately leading one to think chelated minerals are inefficient, faulty and not bioavailable--which just isn't true. Quite to the contrary, 100% of minerals which are actually chelated are indeed completely absorbed and bioavailable. Minerals which are properly chelated are exceptionally bioavailable to the body. Indeed, the truth be known, it is through the natural process of chelation that the majority of all volloidal and ionic complexes are quickly absorbed into the body, otherwise these must wait for the tidal infusions of the body to allow absorption to occur, a passive process which is prone to many difficulties.

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