Magnesium Deficiency: Symptoms, Causes & Health Impacts

Magnesium is an essential mineral that is involved in more than 300 bodily processes. It is necessary for the performance of the heart, kidneys and muscles. It is a key ingredient in the composition of teeth and bones. Deficiency in magnesium usually leads to health problems such as abnormal heart rhythms, weakness and sleeping disorders.

Common Symptoms

• Low magnesium levels can cause irritability, low blood pressure, hyperventilation, confusion, agitation and anxiety, sleep disorders, nausea, vomiting, muscle spasms, poor nail growth, restless leg syndrome and seizures.

Diabetes

• Magnesium deficiency in the blood is associated with type 2 diabetes. Low magnesium levels tend to decrease insulin sensitivity, thus increasing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Magnesium deficiency in diabetic patients also damages their immune system, making them vulnerable to infections and illness.

Heart Disease

• Magnesium maintains our normal heart rhythm so a deficiency in magnesium often causes arrhythmia, which can lead to congestive heart failure.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

• People with inflammatory bowel disease often have magnesium deficiencies in their blood. Some early clinical evidence suggests that dietary magnesium supplements are effective in preventing inflammatory bowel disease outbursts.

Asthma

• The American Journal of Medicine claims that low magnesium intake might be associated with a risk of developing respiratory disorders such as asthma and emphysema.