About Magnesium

Magnesium is an important mineral involved in over three hundred biochemical processes in the human body.

Magnesium is involved in muscle and nerve function, maintaining proper cardiac rhythm, the formation of bone, in energy metabolism, and protein synthesis.

Magnesium is aborbed through the small intestine. Blood levels are controlled by excreting excess magnesium through the kidneys.

Although generally considered safe, consult your physcian before beginning a regimen of magnesium supplementation. Special caution should be taken by patients with compromised renal function.

Hypomagnesemia (low magnesium levels)

Your doctor may recommend magnesium supplements to prevent or correct hypomagnesemia. Symptoms of hypomagnesemia include: muscle cramps, tingling, abnormal heart rhythms, and if left uncorrected; seizures. Hypomagnesemia is also associated with low levels of other electrolytes: calcium and potassium.

Hypomagnesemia may be caused by:

Renal Wasting

Kidneys attempt to correct for low magnesium intake by adjusting the amount excreted in the urine. Kidneys can be impaired from regulating magnesium due to a disease state or as a side-effect of medications.
Several drugs are known to deplete magnesium through the urine:

Malabsorption Disorders

Crohn's and Colitis patients can experience hypomagnesemia due to inadequate absorption of magnesium through the small intestine.

Inadequate Dietary Intake

The quality of a person's diet may affect the magnesium status. A diet void of leafy green vegetables, nuts, whole grains, etc. may be the etiology of magnesium deficiency. Dietary surveys vary greatly on the severity of this condition for most Americans. Low magnesium levels are also associated with alcoholism or poorly controlled diabetes.