Magnesium Deficiency Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

A frequently disregarded medical condition is magnesium shortage, also referred to as hypomagnesemia. It develops when the body doesn’t get enough magnesium, struggles to absorb it, or loses it too quickly. Conditions like chronic diarrhea, kidney disease, and alcoholism can reduce magnesium levels. Certain medications, prolonged stress, excessive caffeine, and uncontrolled diabetes can also lead to magnesium deficiency.

Magnesium is a necessary mineral and electrolyte that is involved in a variety of body functions, such as:

• Energy generation
• Enhances tooth and bone health
• Supports melatonin production
• Reduces inflammation
• Regulates blood sugar
• Improves heart health
• Muscular activity
• Nerve function
• RNA, protein, and DNA replication

Therefore, everyone should get adequate magnesium daily to support overall health.

What Does a Lack of Magnesium Mean?

However, some things can make someone more likely to have signs of magnesium shortage. These consist of:

• Eating a low-magnesium diet consistently
• Having digestive illnesses like Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, or regional enteritis
• Magnesium loss through urine and sweat is high due to hereditary abnormalities or alcohol consumption
• Being both pregnant and nursing
• A hospital stay
• Having hyperaldosteronism and parathyroid abnormalities
• A person with type 2 diabetes

Long-term magnesium deficiency could be harmful to:

• Bone thickness
• Brain activity
• Muscle and nerve activity
• Digestion process

A loss of bone density can be particularly concerning. A magnesium shortage may stop bone development in younger persons. When bones are still growing in childhood, it’s critical to acquire enough magnesium.

11 Warning Signs of Magnesium Deficiency

• Fatigue: You may feel constantly tired or weak.
• Muscle Issues: Experiencing muscle cramps, spasms, twitching, or weakness can indicate low magnesium levels.
• Headaches: Magnesium deficiency may trigger frequent headaches.
• Nausea and Vomiting: Feeling nauseous or vomiting can be early signs of inadequate magnesium.
• Loss of Appetite: A lack of magnesium might reduce your desire to eat.
• Heart Palpitations: Your heart may feel like it’s racing, pounding, or skipping beats.
• Sleep Issues: Difficulty sleeping or experiencing racing thoughts at night can be linked to low magnesium.
• Eye Twitching: Inadequate magnesium can cause involuntary eye twitches due to its role in muscle relaxation.
• Constipation: A magnesium deficiency may lead to difficulty in bowel movements and cause constipation.
• Menstrual Cramps: More intense menstrual cramps can occur due to low magnesium levels.
• Osteoporosis Risk: Magnesium deficiency increases the likelihood of developing osteoporosis, weakening bones over time.

Foods to Eat

By consuming foods high in magnesium, such as green vegetables, fruit, whole grains, cereals, and legumes, one can meet the RDA for this mineral. In order of highest to lowest magnesium concentration, some foods include Trusted Source:

• Pumpkin seeds
• Chia seeds
• Sunflower seeds
• Particularly almonds, cashews, and peanuts
• Spinach
• Almond butter
• Whole-grain bread
• Avocado
• Sweet potatoes
• Brown rice
• Yogurt
• Cereals

Other magnesium-rich foods include:

• Cereal beans kidneys
• Apples and bananas
• Salmon and halibut
• Raisins
• Chicken breast
• Carrots and broccoli

Low magnesium levels cause the body to absorb more magnesium from the small intestine and excrete less magnesium through the kidneys.

How Can a Magnesium Deficiency Be Identified?

Magnesium deficiency is typically identified through a blood test and, in some cases, a urine test. If you experience symptoms such as weakness, irritability, irregular heart rhythm, nausea, or diarrhea, or if your calcium or potassium levels are abnormal, your doctor may recommend a blood test to assess your magnesium levels.

Treatment

Your doctor will recommend a magnesium supplement if you don’t get enough magnesium in your diet. Your doctor may need to experiment with the dosage because they can occasionally cause diarrhoea. Magnesium intravenously may be required in extreme circumstances.

If you’re considering taking a magnesium supplement, talk to your doctor first because too much magnesium can be harmful. Overdosing can result in nausea, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, and, in severe circumstances, an erratic heartbeat and cardiac arrest.

Frequently Asked Questions