Guide To The Symptoms Of Magnesium Deficiency

May 17, 2023

Magnesium is a crucial mineral, as individuals need it for hundreds of enzyme reactions. It supports the immune system, regulates blood pressure, and helps muscle and nerve function. Approximately fifty to sixty percent of magnesium is found in the bones. The remainder is in the muscles, soft tissues, and body fluids. Magnesium has a protective effect on the heart and may reduce dangerous arrhythmias. It is also involved in the metabolism of insulin and blood sugar control. Studies have linked low magnesium to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.

Individuals need to have treatment for a magnesium deficiency. Natural remedies for magnesium deficiencies exist for mild cases, and they include a magnesium-rich diet. Some patients may need oral magnesium, such as magnesium tablets. Severe magnesium deficiency often needs intravenous magnesium as an initial treatment. Of course, patients must understand the symptoms of a magnesium deficiency first.

Fatigue

Fatigue is a generalized symptom that can happen to anyone. However, if it is persistent, it can indicate a magnesium deficiency. As many as seventy-five percent of individuals may not be getting optimal levels of magnesium in their diets. Ideal daily intake ranges from 410 to 420 milligrams for adult men to 360 to 320 milligrams for adult women. Men require slightly more magnesium as they age, and women require a little less.

A magnesium deficiency can contribute to fatigue by reducing the efficiency of cell processes that produce energy. Another factor is called adrenal stress. The adrenal glands sit above the kidneys and make the hormones necessary for critical body functions. When the body is lacking magnesium, it can lead to adrenal insufficiency, which can cause a lack of energy.

Appetite Loss

A lack of adequate dietary magnesium is associated with a lack of appetite. This may be due to chronic systemic inflammation caused by the deficiency, which can disrupt normal hunger mechanisms and hormones related to appetite function. A center in the brain called the hypothalamus is also associated with appetite. Magnesium is necessary for normal hypothalamus function.

A lack of appetite may sometimes be associated with an electrolyte imbalance involving magnesium and calcium. Magnesium and calcium, two of the body's key electrolytes, work in tandem to maintain a correct balance in the body. When magnesium is low, it can cause a drop in calcium levels, which is also sometimes associated with poor appetite.

Nausea And Vomiting

Nausea and vomiting are two of the earliest signs of magnesium deficiency. Although they can have many causes, they are often a reaction to a toxin, whether it is a substance that was ingested or a buildup of waste products in the body. Liver and kidney disease commonly involve nausea and vomiting, and both the liver and kidneys are closely linked to magnesium levels.

The liver needs enough magnesium to work correctly. The kidneys are responsible for maintaining the proper magnesium balance in the body. They also filter metabolic body waste from the blood. The liver also helps remove toxins. Any malfunction of these organs due to a magnesium deficiency can result in nausea and vomiting.

Numbness And Tingling

A sense of tingling and numbness, often in the extremities, is a sign of nerve damage or malfunction. This can happen when a nerve is compressed due to excess or prolonged pressure on it. One example of this is sciatica, which is irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve in the lower back. Temporary numbness of a body part can also occur from staying in one position for too long. Nerve cells communicate and send messages by using certain chemicals called neurotransmitters.

Magnesium is required for normal nerve function. Magnesium also has a protective role for nerve cells, preserving function and preventing early nerve cell death. A deficiency in magnesium makes numbness and tingling more likely for patients, whether they put additional pressure on their nerves and compress them or not. In addition, a magnesium deficiency is thought to play a role in the development of some neurological diseases.

Muscle Cramps

Muscle cramps, tremors, and twitches are signs of muscle malfunction. This can be due to stress, excess caffeine intake, certain medications, and neurologic diseases. However, muscle cramps and malfunction can also be caused by a magnesium deficiency. Normally, calcium and magnesium work together to promote normal muscle function. Calcium flows into the muscle cell and stimulates it to contract. Magnesium acts as a calcium channel blocker, preventing the cell from becoming too stimulated. Overstimulation can result in cell hyperactivity. This is what causes muscle twitches, tremors, and cramps.

In addition, both magnesium and calcium are necessary to maintain a healthy heartbeat. Low magnesium can allow calcium to overstimulate heart cells, resulting in abnormal heart rhythms. Magnesium also regulates the heart's sodium-potassium pump. This creates electrical impulses that may affect the heartbeat.

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