Magnesium Deficiency Symptoms, Causes and Dieases

Magnesium (Mg) is one of the 11 minerals that are vital in the human body. It ranks fourth in terms of quantity among the minerals found in human body. Chemically magnesium belongs to the alkaline earth metal class.

The importance of magnesium for humans was not known when it was first discovered by Sir Humphrey Davy in 1808. Studies conducted in the last twenty years have shown that magnesium plays very important roles in both inter-cell and intra-cell communication.

Magnesium plays a key role in the functioning of more than 300 enzymes in our body. Since the body cannot produce this important element on its own, humans need to obtain it from outside through food.

The average adult human body contains 24 grams of magnesium. The magnesium reserve in our body needs to be constantly replenished. 

Which foods contain magnesium?

In nature, magnesium is found in soil and sea water. Plants use the magnesium that is present in the soil. Just as iron enters the hemoglobin structure in the human body, magnesium enters the chlorophyll structure in plants. Because of this situation magnesium is very important for plants.

60% of magnesium in the human body is inside bones and teeth. The remaining 40% of magnesium takes place in soft tissues (muscle) and only 1% of total magnesium circulates in the blood. Magnesium levels in the brain and heart is a lot higher compared to other organs.

Because blood contains very little amount of magnesium compared to other parts of the body blood tests are not an indicator for magnesium deficiency.

Health Benefits of Magnesium

Magnesium has many benefits for metabolism.

Magnesium shows its main function in the blood and muscle systems, where 40% of total magnesium in body is located. Magnesium plays an important role in strengthening muscles, protein synthesis and enzyme system activity, and cell growth and renewal.

The main benefits of magnesium are:

• Transmission of hormones (insulin, thyroid hormones, estrogen, testosterone, DHEA)
• Transmission of substances called neurotransmitters (dopamine, catecholamine, serotonin, GABA), which enable transmission between nerve cells,
• Transmission of minerals and electrolytes,
• Controlling the uptake and release of many hormones, foods and neurotransmitters by changing the electrical potential of the cell membrane.

The benefits of magnesium within the cell, through its effects on other minerals, are as follows:

• It increases the function of calcium and potassium in the body. For example, in magnesium deficiency, the activity of Na+-K+-ATPase, a magnesium-dependent enzyme, decreases and the potassium retention capacity of the cell decreases.
• Magnesium also protects our cells from harmful elements such as aluminum, nickel, cadmium, mercury and lead.
• Among the reactions in which it plays a role in the cell, it takes on tasks such as glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, nucleotide metabolism, protein synthesis and selection of molecules to bind to plasma membranes, as well as activating phosphate groups and reactions, especially those related to energy metabolism.

Magnesium starts its metabolizing process by being absorbed from the intestines and excreted from the kidneys. In order for magnesium to be absorbed, vitamin D and parathyroid hormone must be at sufficient levels.

Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency

Magnesium deficiency is called hypomagnesemia in terms of medicine. Although there is no definitive data on the frequency of hypomagnesemia in society, magnesium levels were found to be low in 6.9-11% of patients in screenings performed on hospitalized patients.

Symptoms of hypomagnesemia can be grouped into three: cardiac effects, metabolic effects and neurological effects.

Early symptoms of magnesium deficiency include;

• Anorexia,
• Nausea,
• Vomiting,
• Fatigue 

Symptoms of severe magnesium deficiency;

• Muscle cramps,
• Cardiac arrhythmias,
• Fibromyalgia,
• Numbness,
• Decreased attention 
• Mental confusion

Unexplained hypocalcemia (lack of calcium in the blood) and hypokalemia (lack of potassium in the blood) should bring to mind that there may also be a magnesium deficiency in the body.

Causes of Magnesium Deficiency

Eating processed food causes a decrease in the magnesium levels. The magnesium content of vegetables, especially those cooked for a long time, decreases also. Along with these, there are various factors (acid rain, use of artificial fertilizers and pesticides, etc.) that cause the amount of magnesium to decrease in the entire ecosystem. Likewise, soft drinking water preferred by people in recent years is poorer in terms of magnesium.

Both because of the decrease in magnesium levels in the food chain and the changes in eating habits magnesium deficiency is not a rare condition in todays world.

Magnesium excretion is higher in people who sweat excessively and use laxatives or diuretic drugs. In situations such as stress, pregnancy and breastfeeding, the need for magnesium in body increases. With advancing age, magnesium intake decreases due to decreased absorption from the intestines, especially in people with gastrointestinal diseases. If the body cannot get enough of this mineral from outside, it begins to consume the magnesium stored in the bones. The amount of magnesium you need vary depends on age and lifestyle.

Apart from this, some diseases in the human body can also cause magnesium deficiency:

Diabetes Mellitus

Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are the most common cause of magnesium deficiency. Hypomagnesemia has been observed in 25% to 39% of patients with diabetes. Decrease in serum magnesium concentration has been found to be associated with some factors such as fasting blood sugar and duration of diabetes.

Alcoholism

Hypomagnesemia is a common condition in acute and chronic alcoholism. Hypomagnesemia is observed in up to 30% of alcoholic individuals. The reason for magnesium deficiency in alcoholic individuals can be a result of malnutrition, diarrhea, vomiting, low magnesium absorption due to liver failure, and inability to absorb magnesium from the intestines due to vitamin D deficiency.

Endocrine Causes

Although PTH (Parathyroid hormone) increases the absorption of magnesium, magnesium concentration tends to decrease in cases where this hormone is released excessively. Hyperaldosteronism (excessive secretion of aldosterone from the adrenal glands) is another endocrinological condition that causes magnesium deficiency.

Gastrointestinal Causes

Hypomagnesemia may also occur in intestinal disorders such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, Whipple disease and short bowel syndrome, as intestinal disorders disrupt the absorption of magnesium.

Renal Causes

Because magnesium is excreted through the kidneys, some disorders in renal reabsorption can result in hypomagnesemia.

Use of Certain Medicines

Since especially chemotherapy drugs and some antibiotics have a negative effect on the amount of magnesium in the body, magnesium deficiency may occur in people who use these drugs for a long time.

Treatment of Magnesium Deficiency

People who think they have a magnesium deficiency should first consult a healthcare professional. In the treatment of magnesium deficiency, magnesium supplements or multivitamins containing magnesium are used. However, magnesium taken naturally through a healthy diet is also important. Magnesium preparations are generally available as magnesium salts. There are differences in the absorption and use (bioavailability) of different magnesium salts by the body. Therefore, treatment should not be started without consulting a specialist.

Foods containing magnesium

Magnesium is a substance that is easily absorbed by the body, and daily magnesium needs can be easily met with a healthy and natural diet. Approximately 40-60% of the amount of magnesium in foods is easily absorbed by the body.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the German Nutrition Institute (DGE), the human body needs an average of 280-350 mg of magnesium per day. Dark green vegetables, grain products, fish, almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, walnuts, soybeans, asparagus, onions, tomatoes, carrots, celery, leeks, gruyere cheese, dates, black radishes, sunflowers, cocoa, banana, sole fish and hard water are rich in magnesium. Oxalates and phytates, found in some vegetables and grains, bind magnesium, as well as iron, making it difficult to absorb.