Magnesium and vitamin B6 turn up on nearly every supplement marketed to women. What is rarely explained is that in the EU, what a company may say about them is not a matter of opinion. It is a matter of law, and the permitted wording is published.
How EU health claims work
Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 and Regulation (EU) No 432/2012, there is a single register of authorised health claims. A company may only use a claim that is on that register, and it must use it in the authorised wording or wording with the same meaning. Paraphrasing loses the claim.
Each claim also has a condition of use — a minimum amount the food must contain before the claim may be made. A trace amount does not qualify.
This is why some labels say a great deal and others say very little. The quiet ones are often the compliant ones.
What magnesium is authorised to claim
Magnesium carries several authorised claims. Among them:
- Magnesium contributes to normal muscle function
- Magnesium contributes to normal psychological function
- Magnesium contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue
- Magnesium contributes to electrolyte balance
- Magnesium contributes to normal protein synthesis
The nutrient reference value for magnesium is 375mg. A claim may be made where the product provides at least 15% of that per portion.
Note what is not on the list. There is no authorised claim for magnesium and cramps, and none for magnesium and premenstrual symptoms. Any product implying otherwise is going beyond what is permitted.
What vitamin B6 is authorised to claim
- Vitamin B6 contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity
- Vitamin B6 contributes to normal psychological function
- Vitamin B6 contributes to normal red blood cell formation
- Vitamin B6 contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism
- Vitamin B6 contributes to the normal function of the immune system
- Vitamin B6 contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue
The first of those is worth reading carefully. "Regulation of hormonal activity" is the authorised wording. It is not "hormone balance," which means something different and is not authorised. The distinction matters, and it is the single most commonly abused claim in this category.
B6 also has an upper limit. The legally binding EU tolerable upper intake level is 25mg per day from supplements. Products should sit at or below it.
Reading a label properly
Three things to look for:
- Is the amount disclosed? If a nutrient is inside a proprietary blend with no individual figure, you cannot assess it.
- Is the %NRV shown? This tells you the amount relative to the EU reference value, which is more useful than the raw number.
- Is the claim in authorised wording? "Contributes to normal psychological function" is authorised. "Balances your mood" is not.
The nutrition that supports the rest
Authorised claims cover nutrients, not diets. The broader nutritional picture still matters, and none of it is controversial: eating regularly to keep blood sugar steady, adequate hydration, sufficient sleep, and gentle movement. Dark leafy greens, pumpkin seeds, beans and wholegrains are good dietary sources of magnesium. Chickpeas, bananas, salmon and potatoes provide B6.
A supplement adds to a diet. It does not replace one, and no label may suggest it does.
Where this sits in Me'Oria
Me'Oria provides magnesium at 350mg and vitamin B6 at 12mg per 250ml can, both disclosed on the label with their %NRV. The B6 sits at roughly half the legally binding upper limit, which was a deliberate choice.
The can carries the authorised claims listed above, in their authorised wording, and no others.
Me'Oria is a food supplement in liquid form under EU Directive 2002/46/EC. One 250ml can per day. Not a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
This article is general information about nutrition and food labelling. It is not medical advice. If symptoms are severe or affecting your quality of life, speak to your GP.