The LURA team
Scientific documentation
COMPARISON
Corti-Glow vs magnesium tablets
Magnesium is one of the 7 ingredients in Corti-Glow. So why pay for the whole formula when you can just buy magnesium? This page explains the difference — honestly, with numbers.
TL;DR
Magnesium is cheap, effective, and has well-studied effects on sleep and muscles. If your only problem is cramps or a mild deficiency — magnesium for 5-8 € is an excellent choice. Corti-Glow is for women with a more complex picture: stress + insomnia + PMS + sugar cravings. The formula combines magnesium bisglycinate with ashwagandha, myo-inositol, L-theanine and 3 more ingredients — something magnesium alone can't do.
Not all magnesium is equal
Pharmacies carry dozens of magnesium supplements. Most contain oxide — the cheapest form with ~4% absorption. Here's what the different forms mean:
Magnesium oxide
Absorption: ~4%For sleep: WeakPrice: Cheapest
The most common in pharmacies. Barely absorbed.
Magnesium citrate
Absorption: ~16%For sleep: MediumPrice: Cheap
Good value for money, but may cause loose stools.
Magnesium bisglycinate (in Corti-Glow)
Absorption: ~80%+For sleep: ExcellentPrice: Medium
Chelated form — crosses the blood-brain barrier. Doesn't irritate the stomach.
Magnesium L-threonate
Absorption: ~80%+For sleep: GoodPrice: Expensive
Promising form for the brain, but more expensive and with less clinical data.
What magnesium does — and what it can't
Magnesium is a mineral that ~50% of Bulgarians don't get enough of (European Food Safety Authority, 2015). It participates in over 300 enzymatic reactions, including:
What magnesium's authorized claims cover
- Contributes to normal nervous system function (authorized EU claim)
- Contributes to normal muscle function (authorized EU claim)
- Contributes to reducing tiredness and fatigue (authorized EU claim)
- Contributes to normal psychological function (authorized EU claim)
What magnesium alone doesn't cover
- Doesn't touch the cortisol axis (the stress hormone)
- Doesn't cover the evening blood-sugar dip
- Doesn't produce alpha brain waves
- Is one mineral — not the whole 7-ingredient formula
Corti-Glow includes 670 mg of magnesium bisglycinate (134 mg elemental Mg, 36.5% RDI). But magnesium is just 1 of 7 ingredients — the formula also carries ashwagandha (300 mg), myo-inositol (2000 mg) and L-theanine (200 mg), axes magnesium alone doesn't cover.
Comparison table
| Criterion | Corti-Glow | Magnesium (alone) | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ingredients | 7 ingredients: L-glycine + myo-inositol + magnesium bisglycinate + ashwagandha + choline bitartrate + L-theanine + vit. B6. | 1 ingredient: magnesium (various forms). | Corti-Glow |
| Form of magnesium | Bisglycinate (bound to glycine) — absorbs ~80%+, doesn't irritate the stomach. | Depends on the product. Most cheap pharmacy brands = oxide (~4% absorption). | Corti-Glow |
| Elemental Mg dose | 134 mg elemental magnesium (36.5% RDI) from 670 mg bisglycinate. | Usually 200-400 mg elemental Mg (depends on form). | Magnesium |
| Action on stress | Three ingredients, three mechanisms: ashwagandha (300 mg; Salve 2019: −32.6% serum cortisol at 600 mg/8 weeks), L-theanine (200 mg), magnesium bisglycinate. | Magnesium contributes to normal nervous system function (authorized EU claim). Cortisol is a separate axis it doesn't cover. | Corti-Glow |
| Hormonal balance (women) | Myo-inositol (2000 mg) — studied in women with PCOS. A separate axis magnesium doesn't cover. | Magnesium contributes to normal muscle function (authorized EU claim), but doesn't address the insulin/PCOS axis. | Corti-Glow |
| Format | Sachet — dissolves in 200–300ml of cold water. Forest fruits flavor. No pills to swallow. | Tablets or capsules (1-3 per day). | Depends |
| Monthly price | 49.99 EUR (≈97,77 лв.) / 30 sachets (7 ingredients). | 8-25 EUR (≈15.65-48.90 лв.) / 30-60 tablets (1 ingredient). | Magnesium |
| Stomach comfort | Bisglycinate is a chelated form that doesn't irritate the stomach. The formula is gentle on the stomach from day one. | Oxide and citrate can cause diarrhea. Bisglycinate — doesn't. | Corti-Glow |
Ingredients Corti-Glow
Corti-Glow
7 ingredients: L-glycine + myo-inositol + magnesium bisglycinate + ashwagandha + choline bitartrate + L-theanine + vit. B6.
Magnesium
1 ingredient: magnesium (various forms).
Form of magnesium Corti-Glow
Corti-Glow
Bisglycinate (bound to glycine) — absorbs ~80%+, doesn't irritate the stomach.
Magnesium
Depends on the product. Most cheap pharmacy brands = oxide (~4% absorption).
Elemental Mg dose Magnesium
Corti-Glow
134 mg elemental magnesium (36.5% RDI) from 670 mg bisglycinate.
Magnesium
Usually 200-400 mg elemental Mg (depends on form).
Action on stress Corti-Glow
Corti-Glow
Three ingredients, three mechanisms: ashwagandha (300 mg; Salve 2019: −32.6% serum cortisol at 600 mg/8 weeks), L-theanine (200 mg), magnesium bisglycinate.
Magnesium
Magnesium contributes to normal nervous system function (authorized EU claim). Cortisol is a separate axis it doesn't cover.
Hormonal balance (women) Corti-Glow
Corti-Glow
Myo-inositol (2000 mg) — studied in women with PCOS. A separate axis magnesium doesn't cover.
Magnesium
Magnesium contributes to normal muscle function (authorized EU claim), but doesn't address the insulin/PCOS axis.
Format Depends
Corti-Glow
Sachet — dissolves in 200–300ml of cold water. Forest fruits flavor. No pills to swallow.
Magnesium
Tablets or capsules (1-3 per day).
Monthly price Magnesium
Corti-Glow
49.99 EUR (≈97,77 лв.) / 30 sachets (7 ingredients).
Magnesium
8-25 EUR (≈15.65-48.90 лв.) / 30-60 tablets (1 ingredient).
Stomach comfort Corti-Glow
Corti-Glow
Bisglycinate is a chelated form that doesn't irritate the stomach. The formula is gentle on the stomach from day one.
Magnesium
Oxide and citrate can cause diarrhea. Bisglycinate — doesn't.
When plain magnesium tablets are enough
You don't always need a complex formula. Plain magnesium is enough if:
- You have a magnesium deficiency: Cramps, eyelid twitches, irritability — pure magnesium (bisglycinate or citrate, 300-400 mg elemental) will do the job.
- You don't have a stress problem: If you sleep well most of the time and just want to top up your mineral balance — magnesium is enough.
- Budget is the priority: Magnesium bisglycinate from a good brand: 8-13 €/month. Accessible and effective.
- You prefer to combine things yourself: Some people like to pick ingredients separately. If you already take ashwagandha + L-theanine from another source — you don't need Corti-Glow.
When Corti-Glow is the better choice
Corti-Glow isn't "magnesium with seasoning". The formula is for women with more complex needs:
- Stress + insomnia: If your mind won't switch off, magnesium alone isn't the whole story. The formula adds ashwagandha (300 mg — in Salve et al., 2019, 600 mg/day for 8 weeks lowered serum cortisol by 32.6%) and L-theanine (200 mg).
- PMS or PCOS: Myo-inositol (2000 mg) is another axis — studied in women with PCOS. Magnesium doesn't cover it.
- Evening sugar cravings: The evening blood-sugar dip is a separate mechanism. The sachet carries myo-inositol (2000 mg) alongside magnesium — plain magnesium doesn't.
- You don't want 5 separate supplements: If you buy ashwagandha + magnesium + L-theanine + myo-inositol + L-glycine separately: ~80-120 EUR/month. Corti-Glow combines them in 1 sachet for 49.99 EUR (≈97,77 лв.).
- You hate pills: A sachet with forest fruits flavor is more pleasant than swallowing 3 capsules.
Absorption: why form matters
The question is how much of the dose you swallow actually reaches your cells. With magnesium, the difference is dramatic:
Magnesium oxide (the cheapest) has bioavailability of ~4% (Firoz & Graber, 2001, Magnesium Research). From 400 mg of magnesium oxide, your body absorbs only ~16 mg. The remaining 384 mg passes directly through the stomach (which is why oxide has a laxative effect).
Magnesium bisglycinate (in Corti-Glow) is magnesium bound to the amino acid glycine. This bond allows absorption via the amino acid transport pathway, bypassing competition with other minerals. Result: ~80%+ absorbed.
Bonus: glycine itself is an inhibitory neurotransmitter. A study by Yamadera et al. (2007, Sleep and Biological Rhythms) shows that 3g of glycine before bed improves subjective sleep quality and reduces next-day drowsiness.
Questions and answers
Corti-Glow contains magnesium. Can I also take extra magnesium separately?
Yes, you can. Corti-Glow contains 134 mg elemental magnesium (36.5% RDI, from bisglycinate). The recommended daily intake is 300-400 mg. If you want a higher dose, you can add 150-200 mg of magnesium from another source. Caution: don't exceed 600 mg elemental Mg per day without consulting a doctor.
Why does Corti-Glow use bisglycinate instead of citrate?
Magnesium bisglycinate is magnesium bound to the amino acid glycine. Advantages: 1) Absorbs far better from the stomach (~80%+ vs ~4% for oxide). 2) Glycine itself has been studied for sleep — a 2015 study (Bannai et al.) used 3g of glycine before bed. 3) Doesn't cause diarrhea, unlike citrate and oxide.
If magnesium is so important, why does Corti-Glow contain 134 mg?
Because Corti-Glow isn't a magnesium supplement — it's a formula of 7 ingredients. It carries 670 mg magnesium bisglycinate (134 mg elemental Mg, 36.5% RDI), alongside L-theanine and ashwagandha. If you have a diagnosed magnesium deficiency, supplement with a separate product.
Magnesium is 5 times cheaper. Why should I choose Corti-Glow?
If your only problem is mild muscle discomfort or cramps — magnesium for 5-8 € is perfectly sufficient. But if you also have stress, PMS or evening racing thoughts, magnesium alone doesn't cover the cortisol, hormonal or evening-calm axes. Corti-Glow adds ashwagandha (300 mg), myo-inositol (2000 mg) and L-theanine (200 mg) — replacing 4-5 separate supplements.