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 Why Chelated Minerals are Not Created Equal Once you’ve made the step to understand there is a difference between vitamins and minerals and then made the jump in understanding there is a difference between inorganic and organic minerals, you are ready to make a quantum leap to understand why organic chelated minerals are different. This is where we must start to get scientific, after all the word chelate is a very specific scientific word that has almost become trendy in the marketplace. Certainly the word chelate is often misinterpreted and then, not surprisingly, misused. Because of this, “chelate” is almost reaching the point of being genericized in reference to nutritional minerals. This is why Albion Human Nutrition feels a strong and compelling need to help educate the industry and consumer in mineral chelates.
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| Ligand Type 1 |
Ligand Type 2 |
Ligand Type 3 |
About Ligand Size
Are we starting to see where there can be differences in mineral chelates? From the host of ligands available on the market let us limit our ligand selection to just one type for illustrative purposes: Glycine.
Glycine is an amino acid that can be in a long chain of atoms, specifically oxygen, nitrogen, carbon and hydrogen. Ligand size or chain length, is a key factor involved in having a chelated mineral that can be absorbed at a highly efficient rate. Ligand molecule size together with the attached mineral atom makes a combined size. This combined size is important because these molecules can get larger than the size of the cell it is suppose to be absorbed into.
It makes just plain sense that if the chelated molecule is too large to go into the cell the only way it can be absorbed is if it hangs around long enough to be broken down in the digestive process. If the “chelate” is present long enough to be broken down, it has a chance to be absorbed but is little better than an inorganic form of mineral. A larger size substantially lowers the effectiveness of the chelate if the ligand must be broken so the body can re-chelate the mineral for absorption. Chances are the larger chelate will be passed through the digestive system without absorption taking place at all.
Chelate molecule size as determined by the choice of ligand used and the process used to create the specific chelate is a second differentiating feature between chelates in the marketplace.
The Manufacturing Process
Manufacturing a properly chelated mineral for high efficiency absorption is not an easy process. As you have seen, there are variations in chelates based on ligand choices before we even get to manufacturing stage. Now the question is what manufacturing process does a manufacturer use?
- Spray drying of a liquid formulation. This is the process used by Albion; it is an expensive process, requiring large sophisticated equipment and yields a highly controlled precise product. Variation in this process can be monitored and controlled. Product is ‘flash dried’ at a specific moment in the reaction process yielding a “fully reacted” end product with a guaranteed mineral content range.
- Air drying of a slurry formulation. This process is common as it is cheap but yields a variable result. As the slurry air dries the reaction process may be complete or not.
- Dry mixing/blending of ligand and mineral. The result of this process is unreacted, unchelated material. Both the agent and mineral are dry blended in a machine resembling a cement mixer. Manufacturer claims the final chelation process will occur in the digestive process naturally.
- A combination of the above. Some manufactures will combine method C with B to bring the mineral content up to levels the manufacturer is claiming. The end result here is some level of chelation, possibly, with high levels of inorganic mineral (unreacted mineral) present.
We all know variation can occur from one batch of products to the next no matter how carefully controlled a process is. This is why regulators require batch numbers in almost all food, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products. Now add to the equation a claim of chelation with totally different manufacturing processes and environments. Do you think there is a difference?
The choice of manufacturing process to create the specific chelate is a third differentiating feature between chelates in the marketplace.
With this much variation in the manufacturing process is there any question why some products are cheap? As a distributor supplying quality product to your valued customers, do you really know what you are getting: A genericized trendy buzz word or a genuine, effective, organic chelated mineral that is fully reacted? A manufacturer may claim a percentage of mineral content in a product but can he claim a “fully reacted” mineral content and offer indisputable proof? Albion can!
Why Albion Chelates?
Albion is a science and research based company. At the cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars, Albion has conducted clinical studies that prove its raw material selection and manufacturing process is 100% proven to form effective, absorbable chelates. Given the above possibilities in process variation, do you think another company could use someone else’s clinical studies and research to prove their process and their product? Can they further use those clinical studies to prove their product is fully reacted or even if an effective chelation process has taken place? Of course not.
It is to the advantage of some industry manufactures to genericize the word mineral “chelate”. It gives consumers a false understanding of what a “chelate” is and implies there is no difference between one company’s claim to a fully reacted chelate and the next?
Through precise manufacturing processes, carefully controlled conditions and carefully monitored state-of-the-art facilities, a 100% proven, fully reacted mineral chelate can be created. This process is unique not only for the type of manufacturing process but for each specific nutritional mineral being chelated. This is why Albion has acquired over 100 patents to date on chelation-related manufacturing processes. Albion is so confident its chelated products are the highest quality we stand behind them right to your shelf.
Albion's Gold Medallion Program
We are willing to put our name on the label of products conforming to our strict guidelines. This assures you, the customer, of getting a fully reacted, fully effective, mineral chelate. If you are paying a premium for a mineral chelate don’t you want assurances it is a real chelate 100% proven effective. You want an Albion chelate. You want traceability; you want proof, 100% effectiveness? – YOU WANT ALBION
On your packages look for the Albion Gold Medallion seal.
A further note about reading clinical studies on chelated minerals
There have been studies done for a comparative analysis between a ‘generic’ chelated mineral and an inorganic mineral. Some results show very little difference between the ‘chelated’ mineral and the inorganic mineral. The question does then come up as to what quality of chelated mineral are they testing? Whose mineral are they testing?
We hope this makes you a better informed consumer. Knowledge is the tool for better decisions and better choices. Through knowledge you can gain better health.
Recap
A chelate has two parts
- Mineral
- Ligand (not all ligands are the same)
- Ligand is organic
- Ligand can be a host of molecules, including some not suitable for a healthy environment
- Ligand must be joined in two places
- Ligand must be a suitable size conducive to absorption
Manufacturing Processes Differ
- What process or processes are used
- What ligand is used
- Can they guarantee molecule size is small enough for absorption
- Do they guarantee a fully reacted product and how do they guarantee it
- Do they offer scientific proof of chelation
- With all these variables, it does seem logical all chelates are not created equal?
- Are you sure you’re getting a chelated mineral?
- Are you sure you’re getting a 100% proven, fully reacted, chelated mineral?
- Do they give you mineral content but don’t say if it is all chelated mineral?
- Do they put their name on the package is there traceability for the chelate you’re buying?
- Is there scientific proof of chelation?
- Do they have clinical studies on their product and not apply someone else’s studies?
- Are they genericizing the word chelate, that is to say ‘they are all the same’ and just use another company’s studies?
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