Magnesium Deficiency - Symptoms and Treatment

Magnesium is an extremely important mineral and is involved in over 300 biochemical reactions in the body.

Magnesium is essential for strong bones and teeth and proper nervous system and muscle function. The heart is a muscle and magnesium is essential for healthy heart function. Magnesium is relaxes and calms muscles and nerves.

Spasms, tremors and cramps are an indication of low magnesium.

Depression, anxiety and chronic health problems are frequently the result of magnesium deficiency. Few doctors are aware of this and use potent pharmaceutical drugs as the first treatment option.

Heart attack patients and asthma patients are treated with magnesium sulfate injections. Magnesium injections are also used to treat women with pre-eclampsia and to prevent seizures and premature labour.

Conventional doctors wrongly thought magnesium deficiency was rare. They're only recently realising the importance of magnesium in health.

Blood serum levels of magnesium may mask a deficiency (as magnesium should be inside cells, not in the serum). Instead of looking at the magnesium serum result, look at the other minerals. Magnesium deficiency typically results in low levels of potassium (and higher sodium). Serum calcium may also be low.

Low magnesium also amplifies toxic effects of other chemicals eg of chemicals such as aspartame. Toxins in the body cause inflammation. As part of an inflammation reaction, the body retains fluid and a person may look puffy, bloated and gain weight.

Women have an increased requirement for magnesium premenstrually. Symptoms of PMT (depression, anxiety, bloating, migraine, cramps, chocolate cravings) are signs of magnesium deficiency.

Our bodies require magnesium to properly use serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter in the brain responsible for well-being and relaxation. Inadequate levels of serotonin result in anxiety and depression.

The main reason for magnesium deficiency is diet.

Calcium is antagonistic to magnesium and when calcium in the diet is too high, magnesium is lost. The western diet typically has too much calcium. Too much calcium does more harm than good.

White sugar and flour have had their magnesium stripped from them. The brown parts contain magnesium eg wheatgerm in wheat.

Alcohol, coffee, tea and soft-drinks all strip the body of magnesium.

People don't consume enough magnesium-rich foods such as nuts, wholegrains and green vegetables and our foods are not as magnesium-rich as they used to be.

Magnesium is lost when magnesium-rich foods such as spinach are cooked.

Our soils are depleted in magnesium because of intensive farming and application of excesses of certain minerals which block magnesium uptake in plants. Fertilisers high in potassium block magnesium uptake into plants. The green pigment chlorophyll in plants is rich in magnesium.

Magnesium is removed from water supplies as it stops soap lathering. Most bottled waters are just tap water which is deficient in magnesium.

People on the autism spectrum are typically magnesium deficient. Most autistic people also have problems with biochemical reactions, such as those involved in digestion and therefore gut problems from inability to digest food properly and detoxify chemicals, leading to stress and a viscous cycle of depression, brain fog and chronic health issues.

People with ADHD are also typically magnesium deficient. Magnesium calms the nervous system and people that are deficient in magnesium can be 'hyper' and find it hard to relax and focus.

People with malabsorption problems and restricted diets (eg celiac disease) can easily become magnesium deficient. Food nutrients are poorly absorbed with diarrhea and other gut issues.

Mild magnesium deficiencies can be addressed with diet - cut down on calcium-rich foods and consume more magnesium-rich foods such as nuts, legumes and dark leafy green vegetables. Almonds, cashews and chickpeas are high in magnesium. Beware of chia seeds - although high in magnesium, it is also high in calcium, which makes magnesium deficiency worse.

Cut down or eliminate the consumption of softdrinks. They promote the elimination of minerals like magnesium from the body. Tea, coffee and alcohol also strip nutrients from the body.

Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) can penetrate the skin when used in a bath or applied as a spray. Use about 1 cup of epsom salts in a warm bath and soak for at least 20 minutes. Use without soap - soap binds up magnesium to form scum. A footbath is a water-conserving alternative.

Epsom salts are helpful for autism - both the magnesium and sulfate are taken up via the skin and are used in biochemical pathways. The magnesium relaxes tense muscles and calms wired nervous systems and the sulfate aids in detoxification. Either use epsom salt baths or footbaths or spray wet skin after a shower with a bottle containing magnesium and water.

Magnesium in the form of epsom salts is also helpful for ADHD and anxiety. Epsom salts via skin are a safe way of addressing mild magnesium deficiencies in children. Be sure to use pharmaceutical grade pure Epsom salts, not the garden variety which contains impurities.

Epsom salt baths are great for relieving aches and pains and nervous stress.

Diet modification won't be enough for moderate magnesium deficiency. A supplement is needed. Diet modification and epsom salt baths/sprays are safer for children than giving supplements.

Don't bother taking magnesium oxide, as it is poorly absorbed. Amino-acid chelated forms and magnesium citrate are better absorbed. Magnesium salts are bitter, so a capsule or coated tablet can be a way of avoiding a bitter taste. Magnesium is best taken at bedtime, as it promotes muscle relaxation and good sleep.

The recommended daily dose for an adult is around 400 mg. It is recommended to increase dose slowly, so that the body gets used to it (unabsorbed, excess magnesium has a laxative effect). People with kidney disorders should not take vitamin and mineral supplements without their doctor's approval, as they have may have impaired ability to flush out excess.

Start off with a 100 - 200 mg dose taken in the evening. Gradually increase dose until get loose bowels and then cut back dose so that get normal bowel motion.

Signs of magnesium toxicity (from high doses of 1000-5000mg) include diarrhea, weakness and drowsiness.

Magnesium sulfate injections are the most effective way of treating severe magnesium deficiency, as magnesium is poorly absorbed through the gut. Small doses of magnesium sulfate can be injected into muscle daily for a few weeks. The injection is said to be painful, and it is better to give several small doses than one large dose.

Calcium prevents the absorption of other minerals, so if taking a calcium supplement (most people shouldn't need to), take at a different time of day on an empty stomach. Make sure it doesn't exceed the magnesium dose.

More on magnesium, diet and supplements.

Magnesium information from medical perspective.

More on the importance of magnesium.