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Hypomagnesemia is a condition where a person has lower levels of magnesium in the blood. Magnesium is an electrolyte important for nerve conduction, energy production, regulating blood pressure, and immune function.Reports show that magnesium is needed for about 300 biochemical reactions in the human body.
A deficiency of magnesium is when your blood has less than0.75 mmol/L of this electrolyte. But if a person is magnesium deficient, odds are that he’ll also be deficient in other electrolytes such as calcium and potassium.
Hypomagnesemia occurs due to kidney problems, gut issues, or lack of magnesium in the diet. Treatment is possible with supplements and dietary changes.
Reports show that up to 15% of people are magnesium deficient at some point in their lives. Hypomagnesemia is more common in critically ill or hospitalized patients.
Some people with magnesium deficiency don’t experience any prominent symptoms.Studies show that hypomagnesemia mostly results in neuromuscular and heart-related symptoms.
Symptoms can vary depending on the severity of the deficiency. Symptoms for mild hypomagnesemia include:
Severe hypomagnesemia can cause the following symptoms:
The most common causes why you develop magnesium deficiency include:
Not everyone but many people are magnesium deficient because modern diets lack magnesium-rich foods.Processed foods which are common in modern-day diets - often lack magnesium.
A2022 study shows that modern farming practices have also reduced the magnesium content in the soil, so even fruits and vegetables may have less of this mineral.
Stress, certain medications, and health conditions can also contribute to theloss of magnesium and therefore, its deficiency.
You can check magnesium deficiency in the following ways:
Treatment option depends on the cause behind magnesium deficiency. If it is because the gut is not absorbing magnesium from the diet, the treatment focuses on improvinggut health. If the renal system or kidneys are responsible for excess loss of magnesium, treatment is focused on improving renal functioning.
Aside from addressing the underlying cause, doctors will also recommend magnesium supplements or diet to cure hypomagnesemia.
Some practical ways to improve magnesium deficiency are:
For mild deficiency, where symptoms are not severe, doctors usually recommend getting magnesium in the diet. However, when the deficiency is severe, doctors will prescribe you magnesium supplements to normalize magnesium levels in the body.
In some severe cases, you may also be given magnesium through IV drips to prevent serious complications.
Dietary changes are a major component in the treatment and long-term management of magnesium deficiency. The diet should focus on getting the recommended amount of magnesium daily.
Experts suggest that an adult man should get 400 to 420 mg of magnesium and an adult woman should get 310 to 320 mg of magnesium daily.
Here are some foods you can eat with magnesium deficiency:
Eating certain foods with hypomagnesemia can worsen the deficiency. Some of these foods lack magnesium while others promote magnesium loss through urine.
Here are some foods to avoid with hypomagnesemia:
Some home remedies that are common in practice for magnesium deficiency are:
If you are taking magnesium supplements for hypomagnesemia but also want to take fiber supplements orfiber powder for gut health, you don't have to worry about taking them together.
Fiber supplements don’t affect the absorption of magnesium in your body. Astudy in The Journal of Nutrition shows that fiber doesn’t interfere with how your body absorbs magnesium. In fact, astudy shows that taking fiber and magnesium together in your diet can reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes.
Both fiber and magnesium have their own benefits. Fibersupports digestion and helps with gut health, while magnesium is important for muscle and nerve function. So, you can safely include both in your daily routine for overall health improvement.
See Also: 21 Easy Ways to Get More Fiber in Your Diet!
Protein powders don't interfere with magnesium absorption, so both can be safely consumed at the same time. Even evidence shows that there is a positive relationship between protein intake and magnesium absorption.
Astudy shows that patients with low protein intake can struggle with magnesium absorption. Both nutrients play different roles in your body. Protein supports muscle growth and repair, while magnesium helps with energy production and muscle function.
One thing to make sure is that you're following the recommended doses for both to avoid any side effects.
See Also: Thinking of Taking Protein Powder? You Need To Read This!
Magnesium helps regulate potassium levels in the body. When magnesium is low, it disrupts potassium balance, leading to increased loss of potassium in the urine, which can cause hypokalemia.
Yes, a2020 study shows that magnesium deficiency can contribute to anxiety. Magnesium has a major role in regulating the nervous system, and low levels may lead to increased feelings of stress and anxiety.
Studies show that magnesium deficiency can lead to poor sleep quality and insomnia. Low magnesium levels disrupt the regulation of neurotransmitters that help manage sleep.
See Also: Insomnia - Everything You Need To Know!
Hypomagnesemia is the low levels of magnesium in the blood. Magnesium is important for many bodily functions such as muscle contraction, nerve stimulation and bone health.
Deficiency of magnesium disturbs these functions and can lead to severe symptoms such as seizures and irregular heart rhythms. Less severe symptoms of magnesium deficiency include poor sleep quality and digestive problems such as constipation.
Magnesium supplements and dietary changes are the major treatment options for people experiencing the symptoms of hypomagnesemia. Eating magnesium-rich foods and avoiding foods that can deplete magnesium can significantly improve the condition.
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