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E511 Magnesium Chloride – Function and Uses

E511 is the EU food additive code for magnesium chloride, a mineral salt used as a firming agent and carrier in food production and as a magnesium source in dietary supplements.

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Things worth knowing about "E511"

E511 is the EU food additive code for magnesium chloride, a mineral salt used as a firming agent and carrier in food production and as a magnesium source in dietary supplements.

What is E511?

E511 is the European approval number for magnesium chloride (chemical formula: MgCl₂), an inorganic salt composed of magnesium and chlorine. It occurs naturally in seawater and various minerals and is used in the food industry, in medicine, and as a dietary supplement.

Origin and Production

Magnesium chloride is primarily obtained from seawater or salt brines through evaporation and crystallisation. It is also available as a by-product of potash production. In the food industry, it is listed as the food additive E511 and is approved within the European Union.

Use in Food

As the food additive E511, magnesium chloride fulfils several technological functions:

Firming agent: It is used to stabilise and firm the texture of foods – for example, in the production of tofu, where it acts as a coagulant (known as nigari), causing soy proteins to solidify.
Carrier substance: It serves as a carrier for other food additives and flavourings.
Magnesium source: It is added to foods and beverages as a mineral supplement.

Importance as a Mineral

Magnesium is an essential mineral that performs numerous vital functions in the human body:

Involvement in over 300 enzymatic reactions
Support of normal muscle and nerve function
Contribution to the maintenance of normal bones and teeth
Regulation of energy metabolism
Support of protein synthesis
Contribution to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue

Magnesium chloride has comparatively high bioavailability, meaning it is well absorbed by the body. For this reason, it is frequently used in dietary supplements.

Recommended Daily Intake

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has established a tolerable upper level for magnesium from supplements of 250 mg per day. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasises the importance of adequate magnesium intake for overall health. General recommendations for adults range from 300 to 400 mg of magnesium per day, depending on age and sex.

Safety and Tolerability

E511 is considered a safe food additive and has been assessed as harmless by EFSA and other international authorities. In normal food quantities, there are no known risks. However, at very high intakes of magnesium chloride – particularly through dietary supplements – the following side effects may occur:

Diarrhoea and loose stools
Nausea and stomach discomfort
At extremely high doses: hypermagnesaemia (elevated magnesium levels in the blood), though this is very rare in people with healthy kidneys

People with impaired kidney function should exercise particular caution when taking magnesium supplements and seek medical advice.

Interactions

Magnesium chloride may affect the absorption of certain medications, including:

Tetracycline antibiotics (reduced absorption)
Bisphosphonates (e.g., used in osteoporosis treatment)
Certain diuretics

It is recommended to take such medications at a different time from magnesium supplements.

References

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): Re-evaluation of magnesium chloride (E511) as a food additive. EFSA Journal, 2018.
World Health Organization (WHO): Calcium and Magnesium in Drinking Water: Public Health Significance. WHO Press, Geneva, 2009.
Institute of Medicine (US): Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Fluoride. National Academies Press, Washington DC, 1997.

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