Nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, tiredness, and weakness are common early symptoms of magnesium deficiency. Despite the fact that many people do not get enough magnesium, deficiency is uncommon, and symptoms usually indicate an underlying health condition. Magnesium is an essential mineral and electrolyte that plays a role in many bodily processes, including energy production, bone and tooth structure, muscle function, nerve function, DNA replication, and RNA and protein synthesis, according to Cathleen Crichton-Stuart. As a result, it is critical that people get enough magnesium in their diet every day in order to stay healthy.
According to Alin Gragossian and colleagues' study, magnesium deficiency can be caused by a variety of factors, including starvation, certain medications such as chemotherapy drugs and proton pump inhibitors, acute or chronic diarrhea, "hungry bone syndrome" after parathyroid or thyroid surgery, and gastric bypass surgery. Diabetes, poor absorption, chronic diarrhea, and celiac disease are all linked to magnesium deficiency. According to the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the majority of people in the United States were not getting enough magnesium in their diet. However, because the body can retain adequate levels of magnesium, deficiency symptoms are uncommon. These include eating a low-magnesium diet on a regular basis, having gastrointestinal disorders such as Crohn's disease, celiac disease, or regional enteritis, losing excessive amounts of magnesium through urine and sweat due to genetic disorders or excessive alcohol consumption, being pregnant and lactating, being hospitalized, having parathyroid disorders and hyperaldosteronism, having type 2 diabetes, being older, and taking certain medications, such as proton pump inhibitors.
The RDA for people between the ages of 19 and 30 is 310mg for females and 400mg for males, according to the National Institutes of Health. The RDA for people aged 31 and up is 320mg for females and 420mg for males. Muscle twitches, tremors, and cramps are common symptoms of magnesium deficiency, according to Atli Arnarson of Healthline. Supplements, on the other hand, are unlikely to alleviate these symptoms in older adults or people who are not magnesium deficient. Magnesium deficiency can result in apathy, delirium, and even coma. Scientists have proposed that a deficiency may also cause anxiety, but there is no strong evidence to support this theory. Magnesium deficiency may also be a risk factor for osteoporosis and bone fractures, though many other factors play a role.
It is possible to meet the RDA for magnesium by eating magnesium-rich foods such as green vegetables, fruit, whole grains, cereals, and legumes. Pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, nuts, particularly almonds, cashews, peanuts, spinach, black beans, edamame, peanut butter, whole wheat bread, avocado, potato, rice, yogurt, fortified cereals, and other foods are high in magnesium, according to Cathleen Crichton-Stuart. Many people do not get enough magnesium through their diet. However, symptoms of magnesium deficiency are uncommon in people who do not have an underlying health condition. The majority of people can boost their magnesium levels by eating more magnesium-rich foods. Anyone experiencing deficiency symptoms should consult a doctor.
DMO II Marie-Claire Gaas
References:
1. How can I tell if I have low magnesium?
Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH — By Cathleen Crichton-Stuart on June 20, 2018
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322191
2. 7 Signs and Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency
By Atli Arnarson BSc, PhD — Medically reviewed by Avi Varma, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, FAAFP — Updated on April 12, 2022
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/magnesium-deficiency-symptoms
3. Hypomagnesemia
Alin Gragossian; Khalid Bashir; Rotem Friede
