What is magnesium?
An adult’s body contains around 20 grams of magnesium. Around 60 percent of this is found in the bones and around 40 percent in the skeletal muscles. Only one percent of the magnesium in the body circulates bound to proteins in the blood.
Magnesium is absorbed through food. It is absorbed from the intestine and excreted via the kidneys. The daily magnesium requirement is 300 to 400 milligrams. How much magnesium you should take in with food depends on your age, state of health and physical activity.
Magnesium is a component of many enzymes and is therefore involved in numerous metabolic processes. It also plays a role in the transmission of electrical impulses in nerve and special heart muscle cells.
Magnesium: Muscle
Magnesium is indispensable for muscle cells. Without the mineral, muscles would not be able to contract. A sufficient supply of magnesium is therefore particularly important for competitive athletes. Due to higher sweat losses, they often have an increased magnesium requirement anyway.
The muscle reflexes required for movement coordination only work if there is sufficient magnesium in the muscles.
Magnesium: Heart
Magnesium: Intestine
The intestines are also dependent on magnesium. It ensures more vigorous intestinal movement (peristalsis) and can even have a laxative effect if additionally ingested in the form of tablets or powder. However, taking magnesium to lose weight is not recommended, as an overdose can have significant and serious side effects.
When is magnesium determined in the blood?
The doctor will have the magnesium level in the blood (sometimes also urine) determined if he suspects a magnesium deficiency or excess in the body. This may be the case, for example, in the following cases
- Cardiac arrhythmia
- Muscle tremors, muscle twitching and muscle cramps
- Increased or absent muscle reflexes during the neurological examination
- Therapy with diuretic medication (diuretics)
- prolonged nutrition by infusion via the vein (parenteral nutrition)
- Weak kidneys (renal insufficiency)
- Too little calcium in the blood (hypocalcemia)
Magnesium – normal values
|
age |
Standard value magnesium |
|
up to 4 weeks |
0.70 – 1.03 mmol/l |
|
1 to 12 months |
0.66 – 1.03 mmol/l |
|
1 to 14 years |
0.66 – 0.95 mmol/l |
|
15 to 17 years |
0.62 – 0.91 mmol/l |
|
from 18 years |
0.75 – 1.06 mmol/l |
Conversion: mg/dl x 0.323 = mmol/l
When are the magnesium levels low?
When are magnesium levels in the blood elevated?
Excessively high magnesium levels can be caused by an excessively high intake with food or via appropriate dietary supplements. However, they are also often the result of an organ disease or hormonal disorder. Read everything you need to know about excess magnesium here!
What to do if magnesium is high or low?
If there is too little magnesium in the blood, it is usually sufficient to take the magnesium in tablet or powder form. However, this should only be done under medical supervision (risk of overdosing!).
Too much magnesium in the blood is often a sign of severe renal insufficiency and should therefore always be checked by a doctor and monitored regularly.
