Magnesium glycinate, also known as magnesium diglycinate, is a form of the essential mineral magnesium bonded to the amino acid glycine. This compound was initially developed to enhance the bioavailability of magnesium, a crucial element necessary for hundreds of biochemical reactions in the human body. The idea to bind magnesium to glycine came about because glycine is recognized by the body as a carrier molecule, improving absorption across the intestinal wall compared to other forms of magnesium which are not as readily absorbed. The development of magnesium glycinate is fairly recent, dating back to the late 20th century, as a response to the need for highly absorbable and well-tolerated magnesium supplements.