Magnesium is one of the most abundant essential minerals in your body. Most of it is stored in your body’s bones. Only a very small amount of magnesium circulates in your blood.
Magnesium plays an important role in more than 300 metabolic reactions in your body. These reactions affect many very important bodily processes, including:
protein synthesis
cellular energy production and storage
cellular stabilization
DNA synthesis
nerve signal transmission
bone metabolism
heart function
signal transmission between muscles and nerves
glucose and insulin metabolism
blood pressure
Early signs of decreased magnesium levels include:
nausea
vomiting
weakness
decreased appetite
As magnesium deficiency worsens, symptoms may include:
numbness
tingling
cramps
seizures
muscle spasticity
personality changes
abnormal heart rhythm
Muscle twitching and cramps. Muscle twitching, trembling, and muscle cramps are signs of magnesium deficiency. In the worst case, the deficiency can cause seizures. Scientists believe that these symptoms are caused by increased calcium flow into nerve cells, which overstimulates the muscle nerves.
Although supplements (e.g.: magnesium B6, magnesium Diasporal, Bio magnesium) may relieve muscle twitching and cramps in people with deficiency, one scientific review concluded that magnesium supplements are not effective for treating muscle cramps in older adults. Further research is needed in other groups.
Keep in mind that involuntary muscle twitching can also be caused by many other reasons. For example, they can be caused by stress or excessive caffeine. They can also be a side effect of certain medications or a symptom of neurological diseases, such as neuromyotonia or motor neuron disease. Although occasional twitching is normal, you should see your doctor if symptoms persist.
Mental disorders. Mental disorders are another possible consequence of magnesium deficiency. This includes apathy, characterized by a lack of emotion. Increased deficiency may even lead to delusions and coma. In addition, observational studies have linked low magnesium levels with an increased risk of depression. Scientists also believe that magnesium deficiency may promote anxiety, although there is no direct evidence.
In short, it is believed that magnesium deficiency may cause nerve dysfunction (disorders) and promote certain mental problems in people.
Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a disorder characterized by bone fragility and an increased risk of fractures. Many factors contribute to osteoporosis risk. These include aging, lack of physical activity, and insufficient intake of vitamins D and K. Interestingly, magnesium deficiency is also a risk factor for osteoporosis. The deficiency may directly weaken bones and make them brittle, but it also reduces calcium levels in the blood, which is the main building block of bones. Studies in rats have confirmed that magnesium deficiency in the diet reduces bone density. Although such experiments have not been performed in humans, scientists link low dietary magnesium intake with reduced bone mineral density (increased bone fragility).
Fatigue and muscle weakness. Fatigue, a condition characterized by physical or mental exhaustion or weakness, is another symptom of magnesium deficiency. Keep in mind that everyone gets tired from time to time. This usually just means that rest is needed. However, severe or persistent fatigue may be a sign of a health problem. Since fatigue is a nonspecific symptom, its cause cannot be determined unless it is accompanied by other symptoms.
Another, more specific sign of magnesium deficiency is muscle weakness, also known as myasthenia. Scientists believe that the weakness is caused by the loss of potassium from muscle cells — a condition associated with magnesium deficiency. Therefore, magnesium deficiency is one of the possible causes of fatigue or weakness.
High blood pressure. Animal studies show that magnesium deficiency may increase blood pressure and even promote high blood pressure, which is a strong risk factor for heart disease. Although direct evidence in humans is lacking, several observational studies suggest that low magnesium levels or insufficient dietary magnesium intake may raise blood pressure. The most reliable evidence of magnesium’s benefits comes from controlled trials. Several scientific reviews have concluded that magnesium supplements may reduce blood pressure, especially in adults with high blood pressure.
Simply put, magnesium deficiency may increase blood pressure, which in turn raises the risk of heart disease.
Asthma. Magnesium deficiency is sometimes observed in patients with severe asthma. In addition, magnesium levels are typically lower in people with asthma than in healthy individuals. Researchers believe that magnesium deficiency may cause calcium to accumulate in the smooth muscles lining the airways of the lungs. This causes the airways to constrict, making breathing more difficult.
Interestingly, people with severe asthma are sometimes given a magnesium sulfate inhaler, which helps relax and widen the airways. For those with life-threatening symptoms, injections are preferred.
In short, scientists believe that severe asthma may be a symptom of magnesium deficiency in some patients, but further studies are needed to explore its role.
Irregular heart activity. Among the most severe symptoms of magnesium deficiency is cardiac arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat. Arrhythmia symptoms are mild in many cases. Often, it has no symptoms at all. However, in some people it may cause heart palpitations, experienced as pauses between heartbeats. Other possible arrhythmia symptoms include dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain, or fainting. In the most severe cases, arrhythmia may increase the risk of stroke or heart failure. Scientists believe that the condition may be caused by a potassium imbalance inside and outside heart muscle cells — a condition associated with magnesium deficiency.
It has been shown that some patients with congestive heart failure and arrhythmia have lower magnesium levels than healthy people. Treatment with magnesium injections significantly improved heart function in these patients. Magnesium supplements may also reduce arrhythmia symptoms in some patients.
Low magnesium levels usually occur due to decreased magnesium absorption in the intestine or increased magnesium excretion in the urine. Low magnesium in otherwise healthy individuals is uncommon. This is because magnesium levels are primarily regulated by the kidneys. The kidneys increase or decrease magnesium excretion depending on the body’s needs.
Chronic insufficient dietary magnesium intake, excessive magnesium loss, or other long-term diseases can cause hypomagnesemia (magnesium deficiency).
Hypomagnesemia is also more common in hospitalized patients. This may be due to their illness, certain surgeries, or certain medications. Magnesium deficiency is associated with worse outcomes in severely ill hospitalized patients.
Conditions that increase the risk of magnesium deficiency include gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, older age, type 2 diabetes, use of loop diuretics (e.g., Lasix), treatment with certain chemotherapies, and alcohol dependence.
GI diseases
Celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, and chronic diarrhea can impair magnesium absorption or cause greater magnesium loss.
Type 2 diabetes
Due to higher glucose concentrations in the blood, the kidneys may produce more urine. This also leads to greater magnesium loss.
Alcohol dependence
Alcohol dependence may cause:
poor dietary magnesium intake
increased urination and fatty stools
liver disease
vomiting
kidney dysfunction
pancreatitis
other complications
All of these conditions may cause hypomagnesemia.
Older adults
With age, magnesium absorption in the intestine tends to decrease. With age, urinary magnesium levels typically increase. Older adults often eat fewer magnesium-rich foods. They are also more likely to take medications that may affect magnesium (e.g., diuretics). These factors may cause hypomagnesemia (magnesium deficiency) in older adults.
Use of diuretics
Using loop diuretics (e.g., Lasix) may sometimes lead to loss of electrolytes such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
A doctor will diagnose hypomagnesemia based on a physical exam, symptoms, medical history, and a blood test. Blood magnesium levels do not indicate how much magnesium is in your body, your bones, or your muscle tissue. But it is still useful to determine whether you have hypomagnesemia. The doctor will also check blood calcium and potassium levels.
The normal concentration of magnesium in serum (blood) is 1.8 to 2.2 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). A serum magnesium level below 1.8 mg/dL is considered low. Magnesium levels below 1.25 mg/dL are considered severe hypomagnesemia.
Hypomagnesemia is usually treated with oral magnesium supplements and increased dietary magnesium intake.
It is estimated that 2 percent of the general population has hypomagnesemia. This percentage is much higher among hospitalized patients. Research suggests that nearly half of all Americans and 70–80 percent of people over 70 years old do not consume the recommended daily amount of magnesium. It is best to get magnesium from food unless your doctor directs otherwise.
Examples of magnesium-rich foods include:
spinach
almonds
cashews
nuts
whole grains
soy milk
black beans
whole-wheat bread
avocado
banana
halibut
salmon
baked potato with skin
For example, just one ounce (28.4 grams) of almonds provides 18% of the recommended daily dose of magnesium. Other excellent sources include flaxseeds, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, cocoa, coffee, cashews, hazelnuts, and oats. Magnesium is also added to many breakfast cereals and other processed foods.
If you have health conditions that cause magnesium loss, such as diabetes, you should eat many magnesium-rich foods or take supplements.
If your hypomagnesemia is severe and symptoms such as seizures occur, magnesium may be given intravenously.
If hypomagnesemia and its underlying cause remain untreated, severe hypomagnesemia may develop. Severe hypomagnesemia can cause life-threatening complications such as:
seizures
cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal heart patterns)
coronary artery spasms
sudden death
Magnesium deficiency is a widespread health problem. Some studies show that 75% of Americans do not get enough magnesium from food. However, true deficiency is much less common — according to one estimate, less than 2 percent. Symptoms of magnesium deficiency are usually mild unless magnesium levels drop very low. The deficiency can cause fatigue, muscle cramps, mental problems, irregular heartbeat, and osteoporosis. Hypomagnesemia can be caused by various diseases. It can be effectively treated with oral or intravenous (IV) magnesium. It is important to eat a balanced diet to ensure adequate magnesium intake. Whatever the case, try to regularly eat magnesium-rich healthy foods such as nuts, seeds, grains, or beans. These foods also contain many other healthy nutrients. Including them in your diet not only reduces the risk of magnesium deficiency but also improves overall health. If you have conditions such as Crohn’s disease or diabetes, or use diuretics, work with your doctor to make sure you do not develop magnesium deficiency. If you have symptoms of magnesium deficiency, it is important to see your doctor to avoid possible complications.
https://www.healthline.com/health/hypomagnesemia#causes
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/magnesium-deficiency-symptoms#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2
