Magnesium deficiency

Magnesium is a mineral that has some important functions in the body. For example, it is important for the functioning of the muscles and therefore also of the heart. Magnesium also plays a role in building bones and teeth and in regulating the body’s calcium and potassium levels.

Eating a balanced diet normally ensures that the body gets enough magnesium to meet its needs. The mineral is present in many plant-based foods. There are large quantities in nuts and oil seeds, green vegetables, pulses/legumes and whole grains.

However, a restrictive diet, severe diarrhea or chronic kidney disease can cause the body to absorb too little magnesium or to excrete too much.

If the level of magnesium in the blood drops below a certain value, doctors refer to this as hypomagnesemia or magnesium deficiency.

A magnesium deficiency needs to be treated in order to prevent damage to health. If a deficiency is diagnosed, supplements of the mineral can be taken in the form of tablets or infusions.

A magnesium deficiency may go unnoticed for a long time. Often, symptoms only begin to appear once the deficiency has become pronounced. In most cases, the symptoms are ambiguous and could be attributed to other illnesses or conditions.

Signs of a magnesium deficiency include, for example, frequent muscle cramps in the calf muscles, as well as tingling sensations and numbness in the arms and legs. Body temperature may also drop, leading the patient to feel cold frequently.

Symptoms such as headache, heart palpitations, cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat) or digestive problems may also occur.

In addition, some people become listless and lethargic, lose interest in things and begin to show apathetic and passive behavior.

A magnesium deficiency occurs because a person absorbs too little or excretes too much of the mineral. The body has mechanisms that prevent too much magnesium from being excreted.

In a very small number of people, however, this regulation mechanism doesn’t work correctly due to a genetic defect – for example, in the case of Gitelman syndrome, a rare, inherited kidney disorder.

In most other cases, a magnesium deficiency occurs for a different reason, for example:

• eating a restrictive diet, as can occur with eating disorders or extreme weight-loss diets
• high levels of alcohol consumption
• an increased need for magnesium due to stress, sport or pregnancy
• severe diarrhea and frequent vomiting

Certain diseases may also have a negative impact on magnesium levels in the body. These include:

• chronic kidney diseases
• diabetes mellitus
• inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
• chronic bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
• thyroid diseases, such as under-active parathyroid glands

A magnesium deficiency may also occur following a kidney transplant or surgical procedures involving the small intestine. In addition, certain diuretic medication to promote urine production and some antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections can increase the risk of a magnesium deficiency.

Around 2 percent of all people have too little magnesium in their blood.

Pregnant women, people with diabetes and those who consume large amounts of alcohol are much more likely than others to have a magnesium deficiency.

A magnesium deficiency is often associated with a deficiency of calcium (hypocalcemia) and potassium (hypokalemia, also known as hypopotassemia). These deficiencies, in turn, affect bone density and heartbeat. Calcium is important for bone stability. If there is too little magnesium in the blood, this makes it harder for calcium to be stored in the bones. A very severe magnesium deficiency can also cause serious cardiac arrhythmias.

Eating a varied and balanced diet normally ensures that the body gets all the magnesium it needs.

In the case of an increased magnesium requirement due to certain pre-existing diseases or life circumstances, intake of magnesium-rich foods can be increased. These include, for example:

• green vegetables like spinach
• pulses/legumes such as beans and peas
• wholegrain foods
• seeds such as poppy seeds or sesame seeds
• nuts

A family doctor can diagnose a magnesium deficiency by taking a detailed patient history and performing a specific blood test.

If the patient is experiencing symptoms such as heart palpitations or skipped heartbeats, doctors can also check the functioning of the heart with an electrocardiogram (ECG).

The treatment of a magnesium deficiency depends on its causes and on any possible pre-existing diseases the patient may have. If the deficiency is mild with few symptoms, it is usually sufficient to modify the diet to include more magnesium.

For example, it can help to cook meals using fresh produce. Vegetables should also be eaten every day. In addition, a handful of magnesium-rich nuts contains lots of unsaturated fatty acids, which have a positive effect on the metabolism. Oil seeds such as sunflower seeds or linseeds can be lightly sprinkled over muesli and salads.

A pronounced magnesium deficiency can be resolved within a short space of time by taking magnesium tablets. However, these should only be taken following consultation with a doctor because prescription-free food supplements from drugstores or pharmacies may not contain the correct dosage.

People with kidney diseases or other illnesses that cause a magnesium deficiency, as well as people with symptoms of a severe deficiency can have the mineral administered into the veins by means of an infusion.