Supplement category

Mineral Supplements: Iron, Zinc, Magnesium, Calcium and Selenium

Minerals are inorganic elements the body needs in defined amounts, and their supplements are judged on one number the front of the pack rarely shows: elemental content. Learn to find it and the whole category becomes easier to navigate.

What are minerals?

Minerals are elements obtained from food and water. Major minerals such as calcium and magnesium are needed in larger amounts; trace minerals such as zinc, iron, selenium and iodine in smaller ones.

A mineral supplement always contains the mineral bound to something else — citrate, oxide, gluconate, sulphate. The elemental figure tells you how much of the actual mineral you get.

Iron deficiency, zinc insufficiency and iodine deficiency all have well-documented public health significance in parts of sub-Saharan Africa.

Who uses them

Key ingredients

How to compare products

Elemental content

500 mg of magnesium oxide supplies roughly 300 mg of elemental magnesium, and absorbs poorly. Compare products on the elemental figure alone.

Salt form and tolerance

Citrate and glycinate are generally better tolerated than oxide or sulphate. Digestive tolerance determines whether you keep taking a product.

Interaction with other minerals

Calcium, iron and zinc compete for absorption. A combined product may deliver less than the label implies.

Dose splitting

Calcium above about 500 mg at once is absorbed inefficiently.

What to look for on the label

Safety

  • Iron supplements are a leading cause of childhood poisoning — store them securely.
  • Long-term high-dose zinc causes copper deficiency and anaemia.
  • Excess calcium raises kidney stone risk.
  • People with kidney disease must not supplement magnesium or potassium without supervision.

Products in this category

Products documented from supplier material in African markets. Listing is not endorsement.

Normatone capsules bottle
Kenya

Normatone

Mineral-led capsule formula for cardiovascular wellbeing in Kenya

KES 6,750

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CardioCare capsules bottle
Kenya

CardioCare

Mineral and carnitine capsule formula positioned around cardiovascular wellbeing

KES 6,900

Order page

Brands in this category

Where to buy

These products reach African buyers through chain pharmacies, supermarket health aisles, online pharmacies, marketplaces and direct-order delivery. Each channel differs in price, choice, advice and accountability — our where to buy guide compares them, and the Kenya guide covers that market in detail.

Related health topics

Frequently asked questions

Why does my magnesium cause diarrhoea?

Oxide and citrate forms draw water into the bowel. Glycinate is gentler, and splitting doses across the day helps.

Can I take iron and calcium together?

Better not to. Calcium reduces iron absorption; take them at different times.

Related guides

Medical disclaimer. BioMedic Africa publishes consumer health information and supplement research summaries. It is not a pharmacy, a clinic or a medicines regulator, and nothing here is a diagnosis, a prescription or a treatment plan. Dietary supplements are foods, not medicines: they are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Speak with a pharmacist or a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, under 18, living with a long-term condition, or taking prescription medication.