Hypomagnesaemia is a significant magnesium deficiency in the body. We talk about hypomagnesemia when the magnesium level drops below 0.65 mmol / l. Magnesium has many functions in our body, including one of the most important factors necessary for the proper functioning of bones and intracellular energy processes. Nevertheless, the role of magnesium has been overestimated recently, it is believed to influence concentration, learning and mental condition. It is worth finding out in which processes this element is essential, when a significant magnesium deficiency may occur, what are its symptoms and how is magnesium deficiency treated.

Magnesium deficiency (hypomagnesaemia)is an insufficient amount of magnesium in the human body, it is found when the serum concentration of this element drops below 0.65 mmol / l.

The content of magnesium in the human body is estimated at approx. 1000 mmol, which is over 24 grams. The daily requirement is about 0.2 mmol / kg body weight, i.e. 14 mmol on average, while a normal, balanced diet provides an average of 20 mmol per day, which fully covers the needs of an adult, he althy person.

The kidneys influence the magnesium metabolism to the greatest extent, regulating its excretion.

Magnesium is mainly intracellular, it is one of the main cations here. A smaller amount occurs in the plasma, where the normal concentration of this element is 0.65-1.2 mmol / l, of which 1/3 is bound to albumin, the rest is in the ionized form or as inorganic compounds.

Magnesium is an element that performs many functions in our body, a key element from the point of view of intracellular metabolism and the transmission of stimuli in the nervous system.

Recently, the role of magnesium in the occurrence of many symptoms has been overestimated, it is worth remembering that the symptoms that are clearly associated with magnesium deficiency are cardiac arrhythmias and nervous excitability disorders.

The causes of these disorders, however, can also be other conditions, and if the cause is hypomagnesaemia, they appear if the deficiency of this element is very severe.

Causes of magnesium deficiency

The causes of hypomagnesaemia include:

  • magnesium deficiency indiet
  • malabsorption leading to deficiencies of various electrolytes and many nutrients, including magnesium, eg diseases of the small intestine - short bowel syndrome, inflammation, diseases of the mesenteric arteries; less frequently magnesium deficiency may be caused by excessive use of proton pump inhibitors used, for example, in the treatment of stomach ulcers
  • kidney excessive loss:
  • Congenital tubulopathies (kidney diseases in which renal tubular reabsorption or secretion is impaired, for example: Gitelman's syndrome, Bartter's syndrome, familial hypomagnesaemia with hypercalciuria, hypomagnesaemia with secondary hypocalcaemia, calcium receptor activating mutation)
  • hormonal disorders: primary hyperaldosteronism (adrenal hyperfunction) - electrolyte disturbances: hypercalcemia (excess calcium), hypokalemia (potassium deficiency) - use of certain drugs: diuretics, some antibiotics (aminoglycosides), chemotherapeutic agents (cisplatin B, amphotericin cyclosporine, tacrolimus)
  • excessive loss through the gastrointestinal tract: diarrhea, vomiting, magnesium binding drugs, which prevents its absorption
  • transfer of magnesium into cells or into bones or inside cells - this happens very rarely, e.g. after treatment of hyperparathyroidism, in acute pancreatitis, or during treatment of acidosis

Magnesium deficiency symptoms

The symptoms of magnesium deficiency are rare and not very specific, i.e. they can occur in many different diseases, including:

  • disturbances in heart rhythm, e.g. atrial fibrillation, often felt as palpitations or a feeling of irregular heartbeat
  • muscle tremors, muscle weakness, muscle spasms
  • electrolyte disturbances - potassium deficiency and calcium deficiency
  • changes in the ECG trace

The above-mentioned symptoms occur in a significant deficiency of magnesium, if its concentration is slightly lower or at the lower limit of the normal range, most often there are no serious, bothersome ailments.

Increasingly, there is talk of hypomagnesaemia contributing to many other symptoms, which may also have different causes, and for which it has not been conclusively proven that magnesium deficiency is the causative factor. These include, for example:

  • hair loss
  • nail brittleness
  • irritation
  • depression
  • sleep disturbance
  • headaches
  • migraine

Due to the fact that magnesium is available in many foods, its significant deficiency is rare and is most often the result of other diseases.

In the lasttime, many advertisements promote magnesium preparations giving many different symptoms of its deficiency, including:

  • fatigue
  • lack of concentration
  • or depressed mood

These symptoms are very non-specific and may result not only from hypomagnesaemia, but also from many different diseases, e.g. thyroid diseases or anemia.

It is worth remembering that it is difficult to clearly determine whether they are caused by a disturbance of magnesium metabolism, mainly due to the previously described problems with the accurate assessment of the concentration of this element in the body.

Before you start taking magnesium supplements, it is worth paying attention to a properly balanced diet and thus start supplementing any deficiencies, but start leading a he althier lifestyle.

Of course, in certain diseases, additional doses of magnesium are necessary in comprehensive treatment, in such cases the doctor clearly recommends supplementing this element.

If our he alth condition and any ailments make us take any dietary supplements, it is worth visiting a doctor in advance to rule out more frequent causes of disturbing symptoms.

Magnesium deficiency symptoms:

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What is a magnesium deficiency diagnosis?

Magnesium deficiency is difficult to diagnose because normal serum concentration does not exclude deficiency. This is due to the fact that this ion is present mainly in cells and the plasma contains a small percentage of it.

So there may be a situation where the amount of magnesium in the serum is normal, but the intracellular content is too low.

Unfortunately, we cannot measure the concentration of magnesium in cells, laboratory standards apply to the so-called free pool, i.e. ionized magnesium contained in plasma.

Therefore, it happens that in the presence of a condition conducive to hypomagnesaemia, this element is supplemented even despite its appropriate values ​​in the blood.

A certain diagnosis of hypomagnesaemia is made on the basis of a laboratory test - determination of the concentration of magnesium in the blood, if the amount drops below 0.65 mmol / l, we diagnose magnesium deficiency.

In addition to determining the concentration of this element, it is always worth checking the concentration of the remaining ions - potassium and sodium, as well as the gasometry results to make sure that the electrolyte and acid-base balance is properly balanced, and in case of disturbances, make an appropriate correction.

The assessment of the daily loss of magnesium in the urine is less frequently used, but it is helpful in excluding a renal causehypomagnesaemia.

If the daily magnesium excretion in urine is greater than 1 millimole, this indicates a renal cause of the disorder.

An exceptionally used test that allows you to find magnesium deficiency with the correct concentration in the serum is the so-called stress test, in which a drip with magnesium is administered and then the excretion of this element in the urine is assessed. If the amount excreted is small, this indicates a magnesium deficiency.

Treatment of magnesium deficiency

As with other electrolyte disturbances, the treatment of hypomagnesaemia is primarily about identifying the cause of the deficiency and eliminating it.

First, diagnostics of the entire electrolyte balance, kidneys, and then the digestive and circulatory systems should be performed.

If hypomagnesaemia causes serious symptoms, such as arrhythmias or convulsions, replenish the element as soon as possible by administering magnesium sulfate.

If you discover a magnesium deficiency in routine blood tests and have no symptoms, then you may want to start taking oral medications, but there is a risk of diarrhea.

Of course, during the therapy, the concentration of magnesium and other ions should be monitored and possible disorders should be corrected:

  • hypokalemia
  • hypocalcemia
  • hypophosphatemia

because they may make hypomagnesaemia resistant to treatment.

The role of magnesium in the body

Magnesium has many functions: it is a catalyst for energy processes, it is part of the enzymes involved in glycolysis (the first stage of cellular oxidation), it also participates in the synthesis of nucleic acids, which are a component of DNA, and in the process of translation, i.e. intracellular protein synthesis.

In the latter process, the magnesium ion allows ribosome subunits to join together and initiate the formation of a polypeptide chain. No less important is the role of this element in the coagulation system, or rather in inhibiting this process.

Under normal conditions, when there is no bleeding, the magnesium ion stabilizes the platelets, which prevents their activation and adhesion, ie "sticking" together. This is very important because the blood cell conglomerates could become an embolic material causing e.g. a stroke.

In addition, due to the fact that the magnesium ion has a positive electric charge, it participates in the transmission of signals in the nervous system, as well as in the contraction of the heart and skeletal muscles.

Due to the commitment of thisof the element in the work of muscles, they are one of its largest stores.

What's more, magnesium plays an important role in ensuring adequate osmotic pressure, which is why it is one of the main (next to potassium) intracellular ion.

It is also worth remembering that this element is also a component of bones and they are the largest storehouse of magnesium in the human body.

Natural sources of magnesium and supplements with magnesium

Magnesium is mainly contained in green parts of plants, i.e. sorrel, spinach or beetroot, but also in pumpkin seeds, cocoa, beans and buckwheat.

Magnesium loss is favored by several factors: substances that increase urination, such as drinking coffee or alcohol, less often about stress or excessive sweating in this aspect.

These factors, however, very rarely cause the loss of magnesium so severe that it becomes the cause of its deficiency.

It is also worth remembering that the most valuable are natural sources of magnesium, because they contain compounds that are best absorbed by humans.

Dietary supplements should be used when what we eat does not provide the right amount of this element.

When choosing a magnesium supplement, it is worth paying attention to the percentage and absolute content of the element itself, not its compound, and to choose easily soluble magnesium compounds, e.g. citrate or lactate.

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