Magnesium Deficiency
Why is magnesium important?
Magnesium is a very important mineral for your health. Among many other things, it helps to
keep the cells of your muscles and nerves working correctly, helps to maintain normal blood
glucose concentrations, helps to regulate blood pressure, helps to keep your heart rate steady,
aids in immunity, and is important for skeletal health.
Getting adequate magnesium is thought to aid in the treatment of many disorders including:
 Asthma
 Depression
 Diabetes
 Fibromyalgia
 Chronic fatigue syndrome
 Noise-related hearing loss
 Arrhythmia and heart failure
 Hypertension
 Migraines
 Osteoporosis
 Preeclampsia and eclampsia
 Premenstrual syndrome
 Restless leg syndrome
 Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones)
Magnesium deficiency also is linked to sudden death in athletes and sudden infant death
syndrome.
What foods provide magnesium?
Green vegetables, legumes, lentils, nuts, seeds, wheat germ, tofu, blackstrap molasses, bananas,
potatoes (with skin), and whole grains are all good sources of magnesium. High-quality dark
chocolate is also a source of magnesium. Herbs, spices, and seaweed also often contain
magnesium.
What are signs and symptoms of magnesium deficiency?
In the early stages of magnesium deficiency, you may notice the following:
 Decreased appetite
 Nausea and vomiting
 Lethargy
 Weakness
As you become more deficient, the following might occur:
 Numbness and tingling
 Muscle contractions and cramps; hyperreflexia; tremor
 Restless leg syndrome
 Sleep disorders
 Seizures
 Personality changes, including agitation, depression, apathy, anxiety, and psychosis
 Arrhythmia
Severe magnesium deficiency can cause dangerously low levels of calcium or potassium in the
blood.
Who is at risk for developing magnesium deficiency?
People who eat a lot of heavily processed foods and/or a diet that does not contain the foods
listed above are at an increased risk for developing magnesium deficiency, as are people who
consume a large amount of coffee, soda, or salt. Certain gastrointestinal diseases, such as
Crohn’s disease, or kidney disease also may cause a deficiency. Diabetes, pancreatitis, heavy
menstrual bleeding, alcohol abuse, and hyperthyroidism also are associated with magnesium
deficiency.
Certain medications, excessive sweating, and prolonged stress also may cause a deficiency.
Hypomagnesemia may occur during treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis or when initiating feeds in
patients who were starving for some time (refeeding syndrome). Patients who receive parenteral
nutrition for a prolonged period may develop hypomagnesemia.
How is magnesium deficiency treated?
If the deficiency is severe, changing your diet sometimes is not enough to correct the problem. In
these instances, doctors may choose to provide magnesium intravenously or to provide oral
supplements at doses larger than those that you can buy over the counter. Magnesium citrate,
magnesium gluconate, and magnesium lactate are the best-absorbed forms of magnesium
supplements. Absorption also may occur from topical application of magnesium.
What are the side effects of magnesium supplementation?
Pharmacological doses of magnesium might result in diarrhea or abdominal cramping. Signs of
magnesium toxicity include change in mental status, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, loss of
appetite, muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, severe hypotension, bradycardia, dysrhythmia,
and mineral deficiencies. Toxicity might result in coma, cardiac arrest, and death.
People with kidney disease or heart disease are at an increased risk for developing magnesium
toxicity. Some laxative and antacids contain magnesium, so you should always follow the
directions and let your physician know if you are using these products.
References and recommended readings
Ehrlich SD. Magnesium. University of Maryland Medical Center.
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/magnesium-000313.htm. Updated May 7, 2013. Accessed
July 29, 2013.
Fulop T. Hypomagnesemia. Medscape Reference Web site.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2038394-overview. Accessed July 29, 2013.
Office of Dietary Supplements. Dietary supplement fact sheet: magnesium. National Institutes of
Health Web site. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/. Accessed July
29, 2013.
Submitted by Elaine Koontz RD, LD/N
Review Date 7/13
G-1888