hypomagnesemia, otherwise known as magnesium deficiency, is a relatively common condition that occurs when a person has less than the required amount of magnesium in their blood. magnesium is an electrolyte (a mineral carrying an electric charge) that contributes to a wide range of functions within the body, including proper muscle and nerve functioning. magnesium plays an integral role in metabolism by helping cells properly use the energy derived from carbohydrates, protein and fat.
magnesium also helps balance other electrolytes in the body, including calcium, potassium and sodium, and hundreds of enzymes rely on it to function properly,
according to the cleveland clinic
. while more than half of the body’s magnesium supply is stored in the bones, a small amount is found in blood plasma where it is used by cells and organs.
a magnesium deficiency can be mild or severe and the electrolyte is typically kept at normal levels by the small and large intestines (which absorb magnesium from food), the kidneys (which remove magnesium from the body in the form of urine) and the bones (where it is stored). if any of these processes malfunction, hypomagnesemia can develop.
the condition can also occur when the body suffers an excessive loss of magnesium (from, for example, an alcohol use disorder), does not take in enough magnesium or does not absorb it properly. if the cause of a magnesium deficiency can be determined, patients usually make a full recovery with treatment. if magnesium levels become dangerously low, however, a fatal cardiac arrythmia can occur.
symptoms of magnesium deficiency
while many people with hypomagnesemia experience no symptoms, those that do are generally related to the neuromuscular system and the heart. symptoms of the magnesium deficiency vary by severity,
according to global news
, but can include: fatigue, tremors, insulin resistance, tetany (intermittent muscle spasms, cramps or a tingling sensation), high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms and migraines. you should seek medical attention if you are experiencing any symptoms of magnesium deficiency.
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