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Glossary

What is bisglycinate?

Written by the Full Measure editorial team, which sells supplements. Approved for publication by the Full Measure owners. Updated .

Drafted with AI assistance from the sources listed below. How we write these

Quick answer

Bisglycinate is a mineral bound to two molecules of the amino acid glycine. Magnesium bisglycinate, for example, is one magnesium ion with two glycinate groups, and PubChem lists magnesium glycinate, diglycinate and bisglycinate as names for the same compound. Bisglycinates are sold as amino acid chelates.1,2,3

Key facts

  • PubChem gives magnesium bisglycinate the formula C4H8MgN2O4, with magnesium glycinate and magnesium diglycinate as other names for it.1
  • Iron and zinc are also sold as bisglycinates; PubChem lists iron bisglycinate chelate and zinc glycine chelate among their names.2,3
  • On a Supplement Facts panel the amount shown is the elemental mineral, not the weight of the bisglycinate.4,5
  • In a single dose study in 12 women, zinc bisglycinate gave 43.4% higher zinc bioavailability than zinc gluconate.6

Bisglycinate, glycinate and chelate

Bis means two. In a bisglycinate, two glycinate groups, the charged form of glycine, hold one mineral ion. Chelating molecules usually bind a metal through more than one bond, and the chemical names for iron and zinc bisglycinate include the word chelate.1,2,3,7

Labels are not consistent about the prefix. PubChem lists magnesium glycinate and magnesium bisglycinate as one compound, so the shorter name does not mean a different substance.1

How much mineral you actually get

Glycine adds weight. PubChem gives magnesium bisglycinate a molecular weight of 172.42, and only part of that is magnesium, so the compound weighs far more than the magnesium it supplies. NIH's magnesium and zinc fact sheets both point to the panel, which shows the elemental mineral rather than the compound.1,4,5

FDA's labeling guide gives the same rule with calcium carbonate as its example: the panel lists the weight of the calcium, not of the source compound.8

What studies show

  • Zinc: in a crossover study, 12 healthy women took a single 15 mg dose, and zinc bisglycinate produced 43.4% higher bioavailability than zinc gluconate.6
  • Magnesium: in 12 adults who had part of the small intestine removed, magnesium from the diglycinate chelate was absorbed about as well as from oxide overall, 23.5% against 22.8%, and better in the four who absorbed oxide worst. NIH's fact sheet does not rank glycinate among its forms.4,9
  • Iron: NIH notes that iron amino acid chelates might cause fewer gut side effects than iron salts.10
  • Copper: NIH says it is not known whether one supplement form of copper is better than another.11

Questions people ask

Is bisglycinate the same as glycinate?

In most uses, yes. PubChem lists magnesium glycinate, magnesium diglycinate and magnesium bisglycinate as names for one compound, and the same pattern holds for zinc and iron.1,2,3

Is bisglycinate better absorbed?

It depends on the mineral and the comparison. One small study found zinc bisglycinate was absorbed better than zinc gluconate, while NIH's magnesium fact sheet does not rank glycinate among its forms. Look at the elemental amount on the label first.4,6

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Sources

  1. PubChem, National Center for Biotechnology Information. Magnesium Glycinate, CID 84645. Opened 2026-10-07.
  2. PubChem, National Center for Biotechnology Information. Ferrous glycinate, CID 9837124. Opened 2026-10-07.
  3. PubChem, National Center for Biotechnology Information. Zinc Glycinate, CID 151910. Opened 2026-10-07.
  4. Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. Magnesium: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Updated January 6, 2026. Opened 2026-10-07.
  5. Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. Zinc: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Updated January 6, 2026. Opened 2026-10-07.
  6. Gandia P, Bour D, Maurette JM, et al. A bioavailability study comparing two oral formulations containing zinc (Zn bis-glycinate vs. Zn gluconate) after a single administration to twelve healthy female volunteers. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2007;77(4):243-248. Opened 2026-10-07.
  7. NCI Thesaurus, NCI Enterprise Vocabulary Services, National Institutes of Health. Chelating Agent, code C360. Opened 2026-10-07.
  8. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dietary Supplement Labeling Guide: Chapter IV. Nutrition Labeling. April 2005. Opened 2026-10-07.
  9. Schuette SA, Lashner BA, Janghorbani M. Bioavailability of magnesium diglycinate vs magnesium oxide in patients with ileal resection. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 1994;18(5):430-435. Opened 2026-10-07.
  10. Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. Iron: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Updated September 4, 2025. Opened 2026-10-07.
  11. Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. Copper: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Updated October 18, 2022. Opened 2026-10-07.

This page is information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.