Causes and Remedies for Magnesium Deficiency

Magnesium is one of the most abundant minerals in the human body and is extremely vital to many processes including metabolism, cardiac function, blood pressure, DNA synthesis, and more. Most of it is concentrated in our bones and muscles. We get magnesium from our diet, especially from dark leafy greens, nuts, and whole grains. Because hundreds of internal processes rely on magnesium to run smoothly, a deficiency in this important mineral can leave people feeling weak or fatigued and lead to many dangerous conditions.

A magnesium deficiency can be difficult to track, since so many metabolic processes rely on it. Some medications over time can also cause magnesium deficiencies, so physicians should consult with pharmacists regularly while monitoring patients to be sure that magnesium levels remain optimal and safe.

Diagnosing Magnesium Deficiency

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, it is estimated that three quarters of the American population do not get enough magnesium from their diets. The kidneys are responsible for regulating magnesium in the body, so individuals with kidney problems are at risk of accumulating too much magnesium. Likewise, alcoholism can harm the body’s regulation of magnesium. Older individuals are at risk of magnesium deficiency as well, as their kidney function and ability to absorb minerals decrease over time. A lack of magnesium can manifest in many forms, so patients of all backgrounds require close monitoring.

Some common symptoms of magnesium deficiency are fatigue, loss of appetite, muscle weakness, and in severe cases, hypocalcemia or hypokalemia. Calcium and potassium levels can be observed in order to identify magnesium deficiency, though in general it is difficult to recognize. Blood tests are often inconclusive in identifying magnesium deficiency since less than 1% of the body’s magnesium is concentrated in the blood.

Individuals who have gastrointestinal illnesses or who have undergone weight-loss surgery have been known to be affected by magnesium deficiency, since these cases often interfere with the absorption of magnesium in a patient’s gut. Diabetes also can increase the amount of magnesium lost by the body. Because magnesium levels can be affected by so many different conditions and factors in a person’s life, physicians should keep an eye on magnesium levels even in situations that may appear unrelated.

Treating Magnesium Deficiency

In the case of poor diet, incorporating healthier foods into one’s lifestyle can bring magnesium levels back up. Foods like spinach, cashews, almonds, and avocados are rich in magnesium. But in the case of medical conditions affecting magnesium levels, physicians are likely to prescribe magnesium supplements. In these situations, enlisting the help of a pharmacist would help to clarify the options that patients have, and shed light on how magnesium supplements may affect their other conditions and medications they are taking.

Some common magnesium supplements like Milk of Magnesia or magnesium oxide can cause diarrhea, and in turn keep magnesium absorption low. Some alternatives include taking magnesium intravenously or through transdermal magnesium therapy, in which magnesium is absorbed right into the skin in order to avoid the common gastrointestinal irritation that can result from oral supplements.

The most important factor of treating magnesium deficiency to remember is that it manifests in many different forms, so having an open dialog with one’s physician and pharmacist is vital to monitoring symptoms and reducing the risk of harmful interactions and reactions.

Because magnesium levels can be so difficult to measure, many people who are deficient in magnesium might not know it. But if symptoms are communicated to one’s physician, and if pharmacists are consulted during the treatment process, patients suffering from this deficiency will be able to receive comprehensive care. Though serious, magnesium deficiencies can be treated, and with the incorporation of a balanced diet, patients can live perfectly healthy and happy lives.