Pure Encapsulations Magnesium Glycinate vs Pure Vitamins Magnesium Glycinate 3-in-1: A UK Comparison

Reviewed and updated: 7 November 2026

Pure Encapsulations Magnesium (glycinate) gives 120 mg of magnesium per capsule from a single form, magnesium bisglycinate, and in this guide I compare it with our Magnesium Glycinate 3-in-1, which gives 384 mg of magnesium per daily serving from three forms: glycinate, malate and citrate. I'm Dr. Miron, founder of Pure Vitamins UK. I'll set out the facts you can check yourself, including the form, how much magnesium you get each day, what else is in the capsule, pack size, price per day and delivery, and I'll be honest about when each one is the better fit. I've also included one more UK option, Sunday Natural's single-form glycinate, because it comes up whenever people search for "pure magnesium glycinate".

Pure Encapsulations magnesium glycinate compared: the quick answer

• Pure Encapsulations Magnesium (glycinate): 120 mg of magnesium per vegetarian capsule from magnesium bisglycinate, with 1 to 4 capsules a day suggested. 90 capsules for £30.84 (£27.76 on subscription), about 34p per capsule.
• Pure Vitamins Magnesium Glycinate 3-in-1: 384 mg of magnesium (102% NRV) per daily serving of 2 vegetarian capsules, from magnesium glycinate, malate and citrate. 60 capsules (30 days) for £11.99, about 40p a day.
• Sunday Natural Pure Magnesium Glycinate: 75 mg of magnesium per capsule from magnesium bisglycinate, 2 capsules (150 mg) a day. 120 capsules (60 days) for £10.90, about 18p a day.
• The main difference is not the price. Pure Encapsulations and Sunday Natural use one form of magnesium; ours is a blend of three forms and gives more magnesium per daily serving.
• The NHS says taking 400 mg or less a day of magnesium from supplements is unlikely to cause any harm.
• If a doctor, nutritionist or practitioner recommended a specific magnesium product to you, check with them before switching.

Our pick for this guide

Looking for glycinate, malate and citrate in one daily serving?

Two vegetarian capsules give 1000 mg magnesium glycinate, 400 mg magnesium malate and 400 mg magnesium citrate, for 384 mg of magnesium (102% NRV), 60 capsules per pouch. A food supplement, not a replacement for medical advice.

From £11.99 · 60 capsules

Shop Magnesium Glycinate 3-in-1 →

What is Pure Encapsulations Magnesium (glycinate)?

Pure Encapsulations is a brand many people first hear about from a nutritionist or practitioner, and its magnesium glycinate is one of its best-known products in the UK. On the brand's UK website it is listed as Magnesium (glycinate), with 120 mg of magnesium in each vegetarian capsule. The ingredient list is short: magnesium bisglycinate and ascorbyl palmitate, in a capsule made from hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC). It is labelled vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free, non-GMO and soya free.

The suggested use is 1 to 4 capsules a day, in divided doses, with meals, or as directed by a healthcare professional. That flexible range is worth noticing, because it means the daily amount is up to you or your practitioner: 120 mg on one capsule, 240 mg on two, 360 mg on three or 480 mg on four. The UK site lists 90, 180 and 360 capsule packs; on the day I checked, only the 90-capsule price was shown.

Because it is so often recommended by name, you will also see it sold through other UK retailers and marketplaces. If you buy it elsewhere, it is worth checking that the pack is the UK version, since labels can differ between countries.

A quiet five minutes with a cup of tea before the evening gets going. Illustrative image.

What people mean by "pure magnesium glycinate"

A lot of searches for this product are phrased as "pure magnesium glycinate", and it helps to be clear about what shoppers usually mean, because the word is doing a few different jobs.

• A single form of magnesium. Most people mean a product where all the magnesium comes from glycinate (also called bisglycinate), with no oxide, citrate or other forms mixed in. Pure Encapsulations and Sunday Natural both fit this description.
• Few or no added ingredients. Some mean a short ingredient list. Pure Encapsulations lists magnesium bisglycinate plus ascorbyl palmitate (a fat-soluble form of vitamin C often used to protect ingredients). Ours lists the three magnesium forms plus magnesium stearate in an HPMC capsule.
• The brand name. Some people simply mean Pure Encapsulations, and others land on our brand, Pure Vitamins, by accident. We are separate companies.

So let me be plain about ours: Magnesium Glycinate 3-in-1 is not a single-form glycinate. It is a deliberate blend of glycinate, malate and citrate. If a single form is what you are after, Pure Encapsulations or Sunday Natural is the closer match, and I explain below when that might be the right call.

The products side by side

Here is everything in one place. The competitor details were read from each brand's own UK website today, and ours from our product page. Price per day is the pack price divided by the number of days the pack lasts at the label's daily serving.

Delivery, checked 7 November 2026: Pure Encapsulations UK charges £4.49 standard delivery, free on orders of £50 or more, to mainland UK. Sunday Natural charges £4.90 by Royal Mail to Great Britain, free on orders from £79. Our own delivery options are shown at checkout.

120 mg, 150 mg or 384 mg: how much magnesium do you need?

The NHS says adults aged 19 to 64 need about 300 mg of magnesium a day for men and 270 mg a day for women, and that most people can get all the magnesium they need from a varied and balanced diet. It also says taking 400 mg or less a day of magnesium from supplements is unlikely to cause any harm, while taking high doses for a short time can cause diarrhoea (NHS). On food labels, the Nutrient Reference Value (NRV) for magnesium is 375 mg.

Here is how the three products sit, as plain arithmetic:

• Pure Encapsulations: 120 mg per capsule, about 32% of the NRV. Because the label allows 1 to 4 capsules, the daily amount can be 120 mg, 240 mg, 360 mg or 480 mg. Four capsules (480 mg) is above the NHS 400 mg figure, which is a level people usually take on the advice of a practitioner.
• Sunday Natural: 150 mg a day at 2 capsules, 40% of the NRV.
• Pure Vitamins 3-in-1: 384 mg a day at 2 capsules, 102% of the NRV and just under the NHS 400 mg figure.

So these products suit different plans. If you eat plenty of magnesium-rich food and want a modest top-up, a 120 mg or 150 mg daily amount is a gentle option. If you want close to the full NRV in one daily serving, 384 mg gets you there in two capsules. Remember to count magnesium from any multivitamin you already take.

Magnesium contributes to a reduction of tiredness and fatigue, to normal muscle function, to normal functioning of the nervous system and to normal psychological function. Those are the roles of magnesium itself, and they apply to any of these products at the amounts shown, whichever brand you choose.

Glycinate on its own vs a 3-in-1 blend: does the form matter?

This is the real difference between these products, so it deserves its own section.

Magnesium glycinate (bisglycinate) is magnesium bound to the amino acid glycine, sometimes called a chelate. It is the only form in the Pure Encapsulations and Sunday Natural capsules, and the largest part of ours. In a small 1994 isotope study, researchers found evidence that part of magnesium diglycinate is absorbed intact through a dipeptide pathway, and in the people with the weakest absorption from magnesium oxide it was absorbed better and was well tolerated (Schuette and colleagues, 1994). The study was small and in a specific group, so it is a pointer rather than proof for everyone.

Magnesium citrate is magnesium bound to citric acid. In a randomised, double-blind study at the University of Reading, 46 healthy adults took 300 mg of magnesium a day as an amino-acid chelate, citrate or oxide for 60 days. Both organic forms (the chelate and citrate) were absorbed better than oxide, and citrate gave the highest blood magnesium levels in that study (Walker and colleagues, 2003). Some people find citrate loosens the stools at higher amounts, which is one reason people sometimes prefer glycinate on its own.

Magnesium malate is magnesium bound to malic acid, a compound found naturally in fruit such as apples. There is less head-to-head research on malate than on citrate or glycinate.

My honest summary: the research we have says organic forms such as glycinate and citrate are generally better absorbed than oxide, and none of the three products here uses oxide. There is no good evidence that a single form beats a blend, or that a blend beats a single form, for everyday use. The amount you take and whether it sits comfortably with you usually matter more than the label on the front. My guides to magnesium glycinate vs citrate and glycinate vs bisglycinate go into the detail, and what a 3-in-1 magnesium supplement is explains why we chose a blend.

A big bowl at the end of the day, with a sprinkle of pumpkin seeds on top. Illustrative image.

Compound weight vs elemental magnesium: reading the label

This is where magnesium labels catch people out. The weight of a magnesium compound is not the same as the amount of magnesium it provides, because most of the compound is the glycine, citric acid or malic acid the magnesium is bound to.

• Sunday Natural states 350 mg of magnesium bisglycinate per capsule, providing 75 mg of magnesium.
• Our capsules list 1800 mg of magnesium compounds per daily serving (1000 mg glycinate, 400 mg malate, 400 mg citrate), providing 384 mg of magnesium. You will see "1800 mg Magnesium Compounds" on the front of our pouch, and the 384 mg figure in the nutrition panel.
• Pure Encapsulations states the magnesium per capsule (120 mg) rather than the compound weight.

When you compare any two magnesium products, always compare the magnesium figure, sometimes written as "elemental magnesium", and the number of capsules it takes to get there. That is the only like-for-like number.

The cost per day, worked out

Pack prices can mislead, because packs last different lengths of time and hold different amounts of magnesium. Here are two fair ways to look at it, on prices checked today:

Cost per day at the label's serving

• Sunday Natural: £10.90 ÷ 60 days = about 18p a day for 150 mg.
• Pure Encapsulations at 1 capsule: £30.84 ÷ 90 = about 34p a day for 120 mg (a pot lasts 90 days).
• Pure Vitamins 3-in-1: £11.99 ÷ 30 days = about 40p a day for 384 mg.
• Pure Encapsulations at 3 capsules: 3 × 34p = about £1.03 a day for 360 mg (a pot lasts 30 days).

Cost per 100 mg of magnesium

• Pure Vitamins 3-in-1: 40p ÷ 3.84 = about 10p per 100 mg.
• Sunday Natural: 18p ÷ 1.5 = about 12p per 100 mg.
• Pure Encapsulations: 34p ÷ 1.2 = about 29p per 100 mg (about 26p on subscription).

So if you want a small daily amount, Sunday Natural costs the least per day. If you want a higher daily amount, the cost per 100 mg matters more, and on today's prices ours works out lowest per milligram of magnesium. Two more points: a single Pure Encapsulations pot bought on its own adds £4.49 delivery under £50, and Sunday Natural adds £4.90 under £79, so the delivery threshold can change which works out cheaper for you.

Food first. Seeds, nuts, greens and beans are some of the easiest places to find magnesium. Illustrative image.

Magnesium from food comes first

Whichever product you pick, food does most of the work. The NHS lists green leafy vegetables such as spinach, nuts, brown rice, wholemeal bread, fish, meat and dairy foods as good sources of magnesium. Pumpkin seeds, almonds, cashews, beans, avocado and dark chocolate are other easy ways to add a little more through the week. If your diet is varied, a modest top-up may be all you want. If you know your diet is low in these foods, a higher daily amount from a supplement may make more sense, and it is worth discussing with your GP or pharmacist.

How to take magnesium so it fits your day

• With food and water. Pure Encapsulations suggests taking its capsules with meals, in divided doses. Ours is 2 capsules once a day with a full glass of water. Taking magnesium with food can help it sit comfortably.
• Morning or evening. Both are fine. Pick a time you will remember and stick with it. My guide on when to take magnesium glycinate covers timing in more detail.
• Splitting the dose. If you take a higher amount, splitting it across the day is a sensible way to keep it comfortable.
• Be patient and consistent. Magnesium is a daily nutrient, not a one-off. Taking it regularly at the label dose matters more than the exact time.

A chapter or two, a blanket and a glass of water within reach. Illustrative image.

Which one suits you

I want this section to be useful even if you end up buying from someone else.

Pure Encapsulations Magnesium (glycinate) may suit you better if:

• You want magnesium glycinate as a single form, with nothing else mixed in.
• You like a flexible dose, starting at 120 mg and adjusting one capsule at a time, or your practitioner has given you a specific number of capsules.
• You find citrate does not sit well with you and prefer to avoid it.
• You want a larger pack, with 180 and 360 capsule options listed.
• A doctor, nutritionist or practitioner recommended Pure Encapsulations for you. In that case, speak to them before changing anything.

Sunday Natural Pure Magnesium Glycinate may suit you better if:

• You want a single-form glycinate at a lower daily amount (150 mg) and the lowest cost per day in this comparison.
• You are happy to order enough to reach its free-delivery threshold, or do not mind the delivery charge.

Our Magnesium Glycinate 3-in-1 may suit you better if:

• You want close to 100% of the NRV (384 mg) in one daily serving of two capsules.
• You like the idea of three organic forms, glycinate, malate and citrate, with no oxide.
• You want the lowest cost per 100 mg of magnesium in this comparison and a monthly pouch.

For other product categories, see our page on a UK alternative to Pure Encapsulations, and for a wider look at the market, my guide to the best magnesium supplements in the UK and what to look for before buying.

A few cautions worth knowing

• Keep supplemental magnesium at 400 mg a day or less unless a GP or practitioner advises otherwise, and count magnesium in any multivitamin you take.
• High amounts of magnesium can cause loose stools or diarrhoea. If that happens, lower the amount or speak to your pharmacist.
• If you have kidney problems, speak to your GP before taking magnesium, as the kidneys clear excess magnesium from the body.
• Magnesium can affect how some medicines are absorbed, including some antibiotics (tetracyclines and quinolones), bisphosphonates for bone health and levothyroxine. Ask your pharmacist how to space them.
• If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking any medication, check with your GP or pharmacist first.
• Our 3-in-1 is not intended for children or adolescents.

Frequently asked questions

Is Pure Vitamins the same company as Pure Encapsulations?

No. Pure Vitamins UK is an independent British brand. We are not connected to, endorsed by or affiliated with Pure Encapsulations or its owner.

How much magnesium is in Pure Encapsulations magnesium glycinate?

According to the brand's UK website, checked on 7 November 2026, each vegetarian capsule provides 120 mg of magnesium from magnesium bisglycinate, with a suggested use of 1 to 4 capsules a day in divided doses with meals.

Is your Magnesium Glycinate 3-in-1 a pure magnesium glycinate?

No. It is a blend of three forms: 1000 mg magnesium glycinate, 400 mg magnesium malate and 400 mg magnesium citrate per daily serving, giving 384 mg of magnesium (102% NRV). If you want glycinate as a single form, a single-form product is the closer match.

Which is cheaper, Pure Encapsulations or your magnesium?

On 7 November 2026, one Pure Encapsulations capsule a day cost about 34p for 120 mg of magnesium, and our 2-capsule daily serving cost about 40p for 384 mg. Per 100 mg of magnesium, that is about 29p for Pure Encapsulations and about 10p for ours.

Is 384 mg of magnesium a day too much?

The NHS says taking 400 mg or less a day of magnesium from supplements is unlikely to cause any harm. A 384 mg daily serving is within that figure, but count any magnesium from other supplements, and speak to your GP first if you have kidney problems or take medication.

Our pick for this guide

Want 384 mg of magnesium from three forms in two capsules a day?

Each daily serving combines magnesium glycinate, malate and citrate for 384 mg of magnesium (102% NRV) in vegan HPMC capsules, and each pouch of 60 capsules lasts a month. A food supplement, not a replacement for medical advice.

From £11.99 · 60 capsules

Shop Magnesium Glycinate 3-in-1 →

Where these facts come from

• Pure Encapsulations Magnesium (glycinate), £30.84 (subscribe £27.76), 90 capsules, 120 mg magnesium per capsule from magnesium bisglycinate, 1 to 4 capsules a day, checked 7 November 2026: pure-encapsulations.co.uk
• Pure Encapsulations UK delivery (£4.49, free on orders of £50 or more), checked 7 November 2026: delivery and returns
• Sunday Natural Pure Magnesium Glycinate, £10.90, 120 capsules, 75 mg magnesium per capsule, 2 capsules a day, checked 7 November 2026: sunday-natural.co.uk
• Sunday Natural delivery to Great Britain (£4.90, free from £79), checked 7 November 2026: shipping
• Pure Vitamins Magnesium Glycinate 3-in-1, £11.99, 60 capsules, 384 mg magnesium per 2-capsule serving: our product page

Sources

• NHS. Vitamins and minerals: others (magnesium). nhs.uk
• Schuette SA, Lashner BA, Janghorbani M. Bioavailability of magnesium diglycinate vs magnesium oxide in patients with ileal resection. JPEN Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, 1994. doi:10.1177/0148607194018005430
• Walker AF, Marakis G, Christie S, Byng M. Mg citrate found more bioavailable than other Mg preparations in a randomised, double-blind study. Magnesium Research, 2003. PubMed 14596323
• GB Nutrition and Health Claims Register (magnesium function claims). gov.uk

More reading: our supplement guides hub, my guide to magnesium and muscle function, and the Pure Vitamins UK home page.

Dr. Miron, Founder of Pure Vitamins UK

Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Always speak to your GP or pharmacist if you have a medical condition, take medication, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.