Magnesium deficiency refers to inadequate intake of dietary magnesium or impaired absorption
of magnesium, which can result in numerous symptoms and diseases. It is generally corrected
by an increase of magnesium in diet, oral supplements, and in severe cases, intravenous
supplementation.
Terminology "Magnesium deficiency" should be distinguished
from hypomagnesemia. Magnesium deficiency encompasses a broader scope, and includes
disorders of magnesium metabolism and low intracellular storage. Hypomagnesemia refers
only to low serum levels of magnesium. Therefore, magnesium deficiency can be present without
hypomagnesemia, and hypomagnesemia can be present without magnesium deficiency. As a
disorder of metabolism, magnesium deficiency can be much harder to treat than hypomagnesemia.
Signs and symptoms Symptoms of magnesium deficiency include:
hyperexcitability, dizziness, muscle cramps, muscle weakness and fatigue. Severe magnesium
deficiency can cause low calcium levels, low serum potassium levels, retention of sodium,
low circulating levels of parathyroid hormone, neurological and muscular symptoms, loss of
appetite, nausea, vomiting, personality changes, and death from heart failure. Magnesium plays
an important role in carbohydrate metabolism and its deficiency may worsen insulin resistance,
a condition that often precedes diabetes, or may be a consequence of insulin resistance.
Deficiency can cause an irregular heart beat. Pathophysiology
Causes
Causes of magnesium deficiency include diet, alcohol abuse, poorly controlled diabetes,
excessive or chronic vomiting and/or diarrhea. Phytate or oxalate in the diet may bind magnesium
causing it to be eliminated from rather than absorbed in the colon. Certain drugs can deplete
magnesium levels such as osmotic diuretics, cisplatin, ciclosporin, amphetamines, and
possibly proton pump inhibitors http:www.fda.govdrugsafety/ucm245011.htm. Also deficiency may occur in Bartter syndrome
and Gitelman syndrome. Diagnosis
Diagnosis of severe hypomagnesia can be made through a standard serum magnesium test.
The accuracy of the serum magnesium blood test as an indicator of overall magnesium
sufficiency is disputed due to claims that the total percentage of magnesium stored freely
in the blood is less than 1%. Treatments
Magnesium deficiency can often be effectively treated with an oral magnesium preparation.
Probiotic lactobacilli, and other species of endogenous digestive microflora may play
a role in the bioavailability of magnesium as they may affect the breakdown of antagonists
such as phytate and oxalate in the diet. Other minerals in the diet, such as calcium and
zinc, may interact with phytate and oxalate, reducing magnesium loss.
Severe hypomagnesemia is often treated medically with intravenous or intramuscular magnesium
sulfate solution, which is completely bioavailable, and effective.
Food sources of magnesium Food sources of magnesium include leafy green
vegetables and soybeans, raw nuts and fruit.[2] Epidemiology
57% of the US population does not meet the US RDA for dietary intake of magnesium. The
kidneys are very efficient at maintaining body levels, but not in cases where the diet
is deficient. History
Magnesium deficiency in humans was first described in the medical literature in 1934.
See also Magnesium in biology
Hypomagnesemia Hypermagnesemia
References ^ "Definition of Magnesium Deficiency". MedicineNet.com.
Retrieved 31 May 2014. ^ "Definition of Hypomagnesemia". MedicineNet.com.
Retrieved 31 May 2014. ^ Swaminathan, R. "Magnesium Metabolism and
its Disorders". US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. Retrieved 31
May 2014. ^ MedlinePlus Encyclopedia Magnesium in diet
^ Rude RK, Shils ME. Magnesium. In: Shils ME, Shike M, Ross AC, Caballero B, Cousins
RJ, eds. Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease. 10th ed. Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins;
2006:223-247 ^ Blaylock, Russell L.. Health and nutrition
secrets that can save your life. Albuquerque, NM: Health Press. p. 395. ISBN 978-0-929173-48-1.
^ Kobrin, SM; Goldfarb, S. "Magnesium deficiency.". Seminars in nephrology 10: 525–35. PMID 2255809.
^ a b Forbes, RM; Parker, HM; Erdman JW, Jr. "Effects of dietary phytate, calcium and magnesium
levels on zinc bioavailability to rats.". The Journal of nutrition 114: 1421–5. PMID 6747725.
^ a b Oxalates may absorb magnesium, background information indicating possibility of oxalates
absorbing magnesium. ^ [1]
^ "Nutrient Intakes Percent of population 2 years old and over with adequate intakes
based on average requirement". Community Nutrition Mapping Project. 2009-07-29. Retrieved 2012-02-11.