Citrate refers to a salt or chemical form derived from citric acid. You can find, among others, magnesium, calcium and zinc citrates. The name refers to the acid known from citrus fruits, but the finished raw material does not have to be obtained directly from lemon. Modern technology uses various ways of producing it.
Characteristics and context
In recipes, citrate may perform different functions, depending on what ion or compound it accompanies. The name element itself does not specify the mineral supplied. The difference between the mass of the entire citrate and the element content is also important. "500 mg magnesium citrate" does not mean 500 mg magnesium. When reading the label, it is worth finding a separate declaration of the amount of a mineral per serving and only comparing products on this basis.
Meaning and application
Different salts of citric acid may have different proportions of ingredients and different technological properties. Water bound in the structure may also affect the weight of the raw material. For this reason, a universal conversion should not be performed for every material described only by the word "citrate". More precise identification of the compound and a manufacturer's declaration regarding the mineral content are needed.
In practice
Citrates may also be present in food and cosmetic products for reasons other than providing the mineral. They may be part of a system that regulates the properties of the solution or play a technological role. The function should therefore be read from the type of product and the entire recipe. The similarity to the name of a citrus fruit does not mean that the preparation contains juice, vitamin C or the same set of compounds as the fruit. Strictly distinguishing names helps avoid such associations when comparing labels.