Magnesium Deficiency

Magnesium deficiency is a medical condition, characterized by lack of dietary magnesium in the body, to an extent below the generally specified levels. Almost all the chemical reactions occurring in the body require an enzyme system to facilitate biochemical reactions. Magnesium itself is an important compound, essential for around 300 enzymatic reactions in the human body. Basically, the people who suffer from magnesium deficiency syndrome are the ones whose body either doesn't absorb magnesium or loses magnesium in copious amount.

Magnesium Deficiency Causes
Magnesium deficiency is usually caused as a result of absence of magnesium in the daily diet. According to a recent study, approximately 61 percent people in the United States do not meet the US Recommended Dietary Allowance for magnesium. However, that is not the only reason for deficiency of magnesium. In some individuals causes of magnesium deficiency also include some underlying medical condition, which leads to excessive loss of magnesium. Excessive alcohol intake or certain medications are also known to lead to depreciated levels of magnesium in the body. More simple causes of magnesium deficiency include recurring diarrhea and vomiting.

Magnesium Deficiency Symptoms
The amount of magnesium required by the body varies according to the age and gender. When the body is not provided with necessary amount of magnesium, it tends to hinder the chemical reactions in which the compound is involved. This in turn reflects on our body in the form of various magnesium deficiency symptoms. These symptoms of low magnesium can be categorized into both physical symptoms and mental symptoms. Physical symptoms of magnesium deficiency include headache, involuntary muscle spasms, insomnia and fatigue, while mental symptoms include irritability, confusion and difficulty in memorizing. The symptoms, which may appear to be harmless initially, often tend to worsen with time and lead to further complications such as muscle contractions, menstrual cramps, panic attacks, hyperactivity and hallucinations.

Magnesium Deficiency Diagnosis
Other than observing the various symptoms associated with it, magnesium deficiency can also be diagnosed by a series of tests. These tests are normally recommended to check the magnesium levels in the blood. These magnesium deficiency tests include blood ionized magnesium test, low dose magnesium load test and checking the 24 hour urine magnesium content.

Magnesium Deficiency Treatment
It's important to initiate the treatment for magnesium deficiency as soon as the deficiency is diagnosed. In most of the cases, the treatment involves administering oral supplements and consuming magnesium rich foods to replenish the magnesium content in the body. Although rare, at times the person may also require intravenous supplementation. This is especially required in case of severe magnesium deficiency. One has to be careful though, as excess intake of magnesium is known to cause magnesium overdose, which is also harmful for the body. More importantly, people suffering from ailments like kidney disorders shouldn't resort to magnesium supplements as the kidneys lack the ability to clear it.

Although magnesium deficiency is a harmful condition which can lead to a series of complications, it is very easy to prevent it in very first place. The best measure to prevent magnesium deficiency is to include magnesium rich foods in your daily diet. These foods include green leafy vegetables, fish, whole grains, beans, dairy products etc. Proteins, vitamins and minerals are important for various functions of our body, and hence deficiency of any of these is bound to reflect on various body functions. In such circumstances, it is important to have a healthy diet, rich in all these nutrients, in order to keep various deficiencies as well as the complications associated with them at bay.