Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Magnesium?Causes of DeficiencySigns and SymptomsDiagnosisPreventionTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Magnesium?
Causes of Deficiency
Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Prevention
Treatment
Magnesium deficiency, orhypomagnesemia, occurs whenmagnesiumlevels in your body are below what is needed to function normally. Magnesium is one of several electrically charged minerals, calledelectrolytes, that the body uses to regulate body functions like heart rhythm, blood pressure, and brain function.
Hypomagnesemia occurs when a disease, medication, or nutritional problem affects the body’s absorption or elimination of magnesium. Symptoms of magnesium deficiency range from nausea, fatigue, andmuscle crampsto abnormal heart rhythms, seizures, and coma.
This article explains the causes and symptoms of magnesium deficiency as well as how the condition is diagnosed, treated, and prevented.
Verywell / Ellen Lindner
Why Magnesium Is Important
Magnesium is an essential mineral that the body needs to stay healthy. An essential mineral is one that is vital for maintaining the body’s health and can only be obtained from diet or supplements.
Magnesium is absorbedin the stomach andsmall intestines. It then works with other electrolytes, such as calcium, potassium, and sodium, to regulate nerve and muscle function, balance fluids, maintain blood pressure and acidity, and rebuild damaged tissues.
Magnesium plays a central vital role in:
The Health Benefits of Magnesium
Causes of Magnesium Deficiency
Magnesium deficiency occurs whenmagnesium levels dropbelow the expected normal range,
Severe magnesium deficiency is uncommon in otherwise healthy people. It mostly occurs when the intake of magnesium is exceptionally low, the absorption of magnesium is impaired, or the elimination of magnesium from the body is increased.
Common causes inclcude:
About Electrolyte ImbalanceHigh or low levels of one electrolyte will almost invariably raise or lower others, causing an electrolyte imbalance. Electrolyte imbalances such ashypocalcemia(low calcium) orhypokalemia(low potassium levels) commonly occur with severe magnesium deficiency.
About Electrolyte Imbalance
High or low levels of one electrolyte will almost invariably raise or lower others, causing an electrolyte imbalance. Electrolyte imbalances such ashypocalcemia(low calcium) orhypokalemia(low potassium levels) commonly occur with severe magnesium deficiency.
What Does Electrolyte Imbalance Mean?
At-Risk Groups
Magnesium deficiency is relatively uncommon but certain people are at greater risk than others, including:
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Signs and Symptoms of Low Magnesium
Magnesium deficiency may be largely asymptomatic (without symptoms) until levels drop significantly. There may also be generalized, non-specific symptoms that you can easily mistake for other conditions, such as being overly tired.
Common symptoms of low magnesium include:
As magnesium deficiency worsens, the following symptoms can develop:
How Serious Is Low Magnesium?Studies have shown magnesium deficiency can lead to the onset or worsening of the following diseases:High blood pressureOsteoporosisMigrainesType 2 diabetesCoronary artery diseaseStroke
How Serious Is Low Magnesium?
Studies have shown magnesium deficiency can lead to the onset or worsening of the following diseases:High blood pressureOsteoporosisMigrainesType 2 diabetesCoronary artery diseaseStroke
Studies have shown magnesium deficiency can lead to the onset or worsening of the following diseases:
Does Magnesium for Anxiety Really Work?
Testing and Diagnosis
Magnesium deficiency is diagnosed with ablood test. The results of the test are then compared to a reference range of values that describe high and low values for magnesium that are considered normal.
For most people, however, symptoms don’t occur until levels drop below 1.2 mg/dL.
Based on other findings, other tests may be ordered to characterize the deficiency or determine its impact on the body, including:
Prevention starts with the dietary or nutritional intake of magnesium through foods, including nuts, seeds, beans, whole grains, and fortified foods.
Foods high in magnesiuminclude:
Do I Need to Take a Magnesium Supplement?Most people get more than enough magnesium from foods and do not need magnesium supplements. On the flip side, the excessive use of magnesium supplements can be toxic and has been known on rare occasions to cause respiratory paralysis andcardiac arrestwhen taken at doses of over 5,000 milligrams per day.
Do I Need to Take a Magnesium Supplement?
Most people get more than enough magnesium from foods and do not need magnesium supplements. On the flip side, the excessive use of magnesium supplements can be toxic and has been known on rare occasions to cause respiratory paralysis andcardiac arrestwhen taken at doses of over 5,000 milligrams per day.
The goal of treatment is to manage the underlying causes of magnesium deficiency as well as replenish it through oral or intravenous (IV) supplements.
Magnesium Supplements
Oral magnesium is used for those with mild hypomagnesemia and comes in pill, powder, and liquid form. There are also different types, including magnesium oxide, magnesium citrate, magnesium gluconate, and magnesium chloride. Liquids or powders that dissolve well in fluids often have better intestinal absorption rates than pills.
Can You Take Too Much Magnesium?
Intravenous Magnesium
What to Know About Magnesium Oxide
Summary
Magnesium deficiency due to low dietary intake in otherwise-healthy people is uncommon. However, it’s important to include leafy green vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains in your diet to prevent low levels of nutrients like magnesium.
Your doctor may suggest oral supplements to treat mild magnesium deficiency. Be aware of the side effects of oral magnesium, which include diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
Tell your doctor about all the medications you take, including supplements and over-the-counter medications such as laxatives and antacids. Drugs and supplements can sometimes interfere with each other and disrupt the balance in the body.
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Office of Dietary Supplements.Magnesium.Ahmed F, Mohammed A.Magnesium: the forgotten electrolyte—a review on hypomagnesemia.Med Sci. 2019;7(4):56. doi:10.3390/medsci7040056Medline Plus.Fluid and electrolyte balance.
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Office of Dietary Supplements.Magnesium.Ahmed F, Mohammed A.Magnesium: the forgotten electrolyte—a review on hypomagnesemia.Med Sci. 2019;7(4):56. doi:10.3390/medsci7040056Medline Plus.Fluid and electrolyte balance.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Office of Dietary Supplements.Magnesium.Ahmed F, Mohammed A.Magnesium: the forgotten electrolyte—a review on hypomagnesemia.Med Sci. 2019;7(4):56. doi:10.3390/medsci7040056Medline Plus.Fluid and electrolyte balance.
Office of Dietary Supplements.Magnesium.
Ahmed F, Mohammed A.Magnesium: the forgotten electrolyte—a review on hypomagnesemia.Med Sci. 2019;7(4):56. doi:10.3390/medsci7040056
Medline Plus.Fluid and electrolyte balance.
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