Effects Of Magnesium Deficiency & Its Importance

We are all familiar with the mineral called magnesium; however, what many people do not realize is that it’s a vital mineral to our overall well-being. Magnesium plays a vital role in more than 300 intricate metabolic processes in our bodies and thus earns the name of “master mineral’.

Here are the reasons why magnesium plays a significant role in our bodies:

It’s responsible for the transport of calcium across cell membranes. In turn, it assists calcium to enter the bone tissue. We all know that magnesium has antiinflammatory properties. It can help in overcoming the following conditions:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Arthritis
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Respiratory issues

Therefore, magnesium deficiency may cause a variety of problems within our body. This mineral is utilized within our bodies at a cellular level. It is essential to have an appointment with your doctor to check the level of magnesium; however, the simple blood test will not be able to tell whether the presence of magnesium is there or not.

Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency

Here are some signs that could indicate that a person has magnesium deficiencies:

• Weak bones
• Poor heart health
• More Tiredness
• Frequent cramps in muscles
• Anxiety, Nausea and Tremors
• Increase in blood pressure
• Type 2 diabetes
• Weak memory
• Difficulty in taking decision

While people with magnesium deficiencies suffer from these symptoms, it’s not sure that anyone with these symptoms may be suffering from magnesium deficiencies. Therefore, the only method to increase the amount of magnesium in your body is by altering your diet and incorporating magnesium-rich foods or supplementing your diet with magnesium-based food items.

Magnesium overdose is nearly impossible, and many people are not able to monitor their intake of magnesium. However, eating excessive amounts of anything is not a great choice.

Excess magnesium intake could cause these issues:

• Diarrhoea
• Slow breathing
• Abnormal heartbeats

This high amount of magnesium in the body could result from the fact some supplements aren’t easily taken into the human body. It is therefore a better option to consume a low-cost diet to ensure that the levels of magnesium are in line with your body’s needs.

Here are a few items that can help relieve deficiency symptoms caused by low magnesium:

• Pumpkin seeds
• Soya bean
• Sunflower seeds
• Sesame seeds
• Black beans
• Spinach
• Almond and many more

Effects of Low Magnesium

Low magnesium levels, also known as magnesium deficiency or hypomagnesemia, can have widespread effects on the body, impacting various systems. Here are some hypomagnesemia side effects:

• Muscle-Related Symptoms: Low magnesium muscle twitching, lack of magnesium leg cramps, spasms, and general weakness are prevalent signs. In severe cases, seizures or convulsions may occur.
• Mental Health Conditions: Deficiency may contribute to mental health issues such as apathy, depression, and other mood disorders.
• Fatigue and Weakness: Early signs include fatigue, loss of appetite, and weakness.
• Numbness and Tingling: Low magnesium levels can cause numbness or tingling in the legs or hands.
• Abnormal Heart Rhythms: Severe deficiency may lead to arrhythmia, characterized by irregular heartbeats.
• High Blood Pressure: Magnesium deficiency may increase blood pressure and promote hypertension, a strong risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
• Asthma: In some cases, deficiency has been linked to respiratory issues like asthma.

It’s important to note that mild deficiencies might not present noticeable symptoms but can still negatively impact health over time.

Causes of Magnesium Depletion

Here are some causes of low blood magnesium:

• Inadequate intake of magnesium-rich foods.
• Excessive consumption of processed foods.
• Chronic alcohol consumption.
• Digestive disorders (e.g., Crohn’s disease, celiac disease).
• Poorly managed diabetes leads to magnesium loss in urine.
• Chronic kidney disease affecting magnesium regulation.
• Medications like diuretics, antibiotics, and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).
• Chronic stress increases cortisol levels.
• Increased magnesium needs during pregnancy and lactation.
• Excessive sweating due to exercise or heat.
• Reduced magnesium absorption in older adults.
• High sugar or caffeine intake causes magnesium loss.

How to Test for Magnesium Deficiency at Home?

Testing for magnesium deficiency at home involves observing symptoms, dietary assessments, or using specific tools. Here are some methods:

• Symptom Monitoring: Fatigue, muscle cramps, an irregular heartbeat, or headaches could indicate magnesium deficiency. Tracking these can help you decide if further testing is needed​.
• Dietary Review: Evaluate if your diet includes magnesium-rich foods like nuts, seeds, leafy greens, and whole grains. A lack of these may suggest a potential deficiency​.
• Home Test Kits: Test strips are available to check magnesium levels in drinking water, though they don’t measure body magnesium levels directly​.
• Urine Test: While primarily done in labs, 24-hour urine collection kits can be used at home and sent for analysis to measure magnesium excretion​.

If magnesium deficiency is suspected, it is recommended to consult a healthcare professional for accurate tests like blood serum tests or more advanced methods such as the EXA test, which measures intracellular magnesium​

If you have an issue or question, consult our orthopedic doctor in Trivandrum and get answers to your queries.