Magnesium deficiency: symptoms
There are no symptoms that are clearly indicative of a magnesium deficiency. However, symptoms such as calf cramps or cramps of the chewing muscles occur quickly and are quite common. Certain forms of cardiac arrhythmia can also be indications of an undersupply of magnesium. The same applies to such non-specific complaints as fatigue, nervousness or loss of appetite. An overview of the most important complaints of magnesium deficiency:
- Muscle twitching
- Dizziness
- Digestive problems (diarrhea, constipation or both in turn)
- Irritability
- Fatigue
- palpitations and heart palpitations
- inner restlessness
- headaches
- depressive states
- numbness of hands and feet
- circulatory disorders
However, all of these symptoms can also occur with many other disorders or diseases and are therefore not proof of a magnesium deficiency.
A magnesium deficiency can already occur in infancy. Symptoms then include failure to thrive, susceptibility to infections or a tendency to seizures. Older children suffer from fatigue and poor concentration. In girls, menstruation may be delayed or accompanied by particularly severe, cramp-like pain.
Magnesium deficiency: Causes
Magnesium deficiency is caused either by an insufficient intake of magnesium or by an increased loss. It is estimated that 10 to 20 percent of the world’s population suffers from magnesium deficiency. Hypomagnesemia is particularly common in adolescents.
However, the body has some mechanisms that prevent too much magnesium from being excreted and also promote magnesium absorption from the intestines. Only in a maximum of one percent of the world’s population are these regulatory mechanisms disturbed by genetic factors. Due to a genetic defect in the reuptake channels in the kidneys, there is too little magnesium in the body. Symptoms of deficiency then appear in childhood or even earlier.
In most cases, other factors are the cause of magnesium deficiency. These can be:
- unbalanced diet or malnutrition
- eating disorders
- increased demand due to sports, stress, pregnancy
- alcoholism
- inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
- chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (such as MOrbus Crohn), celiac disease or intestinal surgery
- prolonged diarrhea and frequent vomiting
- burns
- chronic kidney disease
- diabetes mellitus
- hypo- or hyperfunction of the parathyroid gland
- hyperthyroidism (hyperthyroidism)
A magnesium deficiency often goes unnoticed. Only at very low concentrations below 0.5 millimoles per liter can the magnesium deficiency become noticeable with symptoms. The doctor can determine the magnesium deficiency by a blood test and a urine sample.
Magnesium deficiency: consequences
A magnesium deficiency should be treated as soon as possible. It can affect the rest of the mineral balance in such a way that calcium and potassium concentrations also decrease. Like magnesium, these minerals are essential for normal body functions, especially for the heartbeat. In the long term, therefore, a magnesium deficiency can have far-reaching consequences.
If it is treated and the magnesium concentration is balanced, the magnesium deficiency symptoms mentioned above will disappear quite quickly.
Magnesium deficiency: What to do?
In the case of mild hypomagnesemia, it is sufficient to pay attention to a magnesium-containing diet. The mineral is found, for example, in wheat bran, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, peanuts, almonds and oatmeal.
