Magnesium Oxide

(in 1,155 products)

1. Acidity Regulator / Buffering Agent - Changes or maintains the acidity or basicity of food/cosmetics.

2. Anti-caking Agent - Prevents lumps from forming in food due to excess water. They usually function as a water repellent or by absorbing excess moisture.

Magnesium oxide, or magnesia, is a white hygroscopic solid mineral that occurs naturally as periclase and is a source of magnesium.

Magnesium oxide is a principal fireproofing ingredient in construction materials. As a construction material, magnesium oxide wallboards have several attractive characteristics: fire resistance, termite resistance, moisture resistance, mold and mildew resistance, and strength.

Magnesium oxide has poor solubility in water and is poorly absorbed from the gut. For this reason, magnesium oxide is relatively ineffective for correcting magnesium deficiency. Magnesium oxide is used for relief of heartburn and sour stomach, as an antacid, magnesium supplement, and as a short-term laxative. It is also used to improve symptoms of indigestion. Side effects of magnesium oxide may include nausea and cramping. In quantities sufficient to obtain a laxative effect, side effects of long-term use include enteroliths resulting in bowel obstruction.

As a food additive, magnesium oxide has E number 530. It is approved to use in EU and generally recognized as safe food substance in US.

1. PubChem: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/14792

1. EU Approved Food Additive [2018]

- E530

2. Japan’s List of Designated Food Additives under Article 10 of the Food Sanitation Act

- Magnesium Oxide

3. US FDA Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) Food Substances (21 CFR 184) [2017]

- § 184.1431 - Magnesium oxide