Why does the body need magnesium?
Magnesium works as a natural regulator of excitability: it limits the flow of calcium into cells, so that muscles relax and nerve cells do not become overexcited. It is necessary for the formation of energy in cells, protein synthesis, the functioning of the heart muscle and maintaining normal levels of potassium and calcium in the blood. The bulk of magnesium is found in bones and inside cells, and only about one percent circulates in the blood. This is why a normal analysis does not rule out a deficiency, and a low result almost always means a significant deficiency.
- Regulation of nerve and muscle excitability
- Participation in the work of the heart muscle
- Energy production in cells
- Maintaining Potassium and Calcium Levels
- Participation in the formation of bone tissue
- Most magnesium is found outside the blood
Causes of deficiency
A diet with sufficient amounts of whole grains, nuts, legumes and greens usually meets magnesium requirements, so isolated nutritional deficiency in a healthy person is rare. Much more often, deficiency occurs due to losses through the gastrointestinal tract or kidneys. Alcohol abuse leads, which simultaneously worsens nutrition and increases the excretion of magnesium in the urine. Significant contributors include diuretics, long-term use of gastric acid reducers, poorly controlled diabetes, malabsorptive bowel disease, and prolonged diarrhea.
- Alcohol abuse
- Prolonged diarrhea and vomiting
- Taking diuretics
- Long-term use of proton pump inhibitors
- Poorly controlled diabetes mellitus
- Celiac disease, Crohn's disease, condition after intestinal surgery
- Kidney disease with electrolyte loss
- Restrictive diets and fasting
Symptoms
Early manifestations are nonspecific: fatigue, irritability, sleep disturbances, headaches. As the deficiency deepens, neuromuscular excitability increases: painful cramps appear in the calves, especially at night, twitching of the eyelids and muscles, a feeling of tingling and numbness, trembling. On the part of the heart, interruptions and rapid heartbeat are possible. Severe deficiency is dangerous due to rhythm disturbances and seizures. It is important to remember that leg cramps are much more often associated with other causes - dehydration, stress, venous insufficiency, taking medications.
- Cramps in the calf muscles
- Twitching of eyelids and muscles
- Tingling and numbness
- Fatigue and muscle weakness
- Irritability and sleep disturbances
- Interruptions in heart function
- Headaches
Diagnostics
A magnesium blood test remains the main test available, but is interpreted with caution: a normal level does not rule out tissue deficiency. Therefore, the doctor evaluates the whole picture - complaints, medications taken, fluid loss, alcohol consumption. Potassium and calcium must be determined, because magnesium deficiency is often combined with a decrease in them and prevents their levels from being restored. An ECG helps identify changes associated with electrolyte imbalance. In case of severe or repeated deficiency, the cause of the losses is sought: the kidneys and intestines are examined.
- Blood magnesium
- Potassium, sodium, chlorine
- Blood calcium
- ECG
- Assessment of medications taken
- Examination of the intestines and kidneys for repeated deficiency
- General blood test
Treatment and nutrition
The main thing is to eliminate the cause of the losses: adjust diuretic therapy with your doctor, give up alcohol, cure intestinal disease. If a deficiency is confirmed, oral magnesium preparations are prescribed; the most common side effect is loose stool, so the dose is adjusted gradually. In case of severe deficiency with rhythm disturbances, magnesium is administered intravenously in the hospital. As a preventative measure, adequate nutrition is sufficient. You should not take magnesium for a long time without indications, and for people with kidney disease it can be dangerous, so the decision is made by the doctor.
- Eliminating the cause of magnesium loss
- Oral magnesium preparations as prescribed by a doctor
- Intravenous administration for severe deficiency
- Simultaneous correction of potassium and calcium
- Whole grains, nuts, legumes, greens, seeds in the diet
- Limiting alcohol
- Caution for kidney disease
