10 Signs You Are Deficient in Magnesium (And What To Do About It)

This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

By Mandy Froelich  / Life in Bloom. Updated by Village Media staff on Sept 9, 2022. 

Did you know? A whopping 90 percent of humans are estimated to be deficient in magnesium. Considering the mineral is responsible for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body, as well as impacts blood pressure, metabolism, and immune function, obtaining adequate stores of the nutrient is vital. 

What, exactly, is magnesium? 

Magnesium is a mineral found in the Earth, sea, plants, animals, and humans. The majority (60%) of magnesium is found in your bones, while the rest is in your muscles, soft tissues, and fluids. Every cell in your body needs magnesium to function. In fact, one of magnesium’s main roles is acting as a cofactor or “helper molecule” in the biochemical reactions performed by enzymes, reports Healthline. 

Magnesium is involved in energy creation, protein formation, gene maintenance, muscle movements, and nervous system regulation. Therefore, obtaining adequate amounts of magnesium should be on everyone’s priority list. 

Why is magnesium deficiency so widespread?

Good question, as there are several reasons. 

• Depleted soil conditions mean that plants (and animals that are fed from those plants) are lower in magnesium. 
• The use of chemicals, such as fluoride and chlorine, bind to magnesium, making the water supply low in the mineral, as well. 
• Common substances — such as sugar and caffeine — deplete the body’s magnesium levels. 
• Stress also taxes the endocrine system, depleting levels of magnesium 

Folks who live near the ocean (good source of magnesium), eat foods grown in magnesium-rich soil, and drink magnesium-rich water don’t necessarily have to worry about being deficient. However, that doesn’t apply to the majority of people living on Earth. 

How much magnesium do you actually need? 

According to the US Food and Nutrition Board (FNB), the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of magnesium for adult males is 420mg and for adult females is 320 mgs. When it comes to supplementing with magnesium, the FNB recommends an upper limit of 350mg for all adults – this means you should look for supplements with serving sizes below 350mg of magnesium to avoid reaching unsafe magnesium levels after factoring the amount found in your regular diet. A popular supplement option is BioEmblem Triple Magnesium Complex which provides 3 high absorption forms of elemental magnesium at a safe 300mg amount in each serving.  

You might be deficient in magnesium if…

As Wellness Mama points out, risk factors for low magnesium vary. However, the following are clues that you might need more magnesium: 

1. You’re addicted to sugar
2. You take calcium supplements
3. You drink soda and other sugar-filled drinks
4. You suspect or have been diagnosed with celiac disease or other digestive disorders (like Crohn’s disease)
5. You consume a lot of processed food and conventional dairy
6. You have a water softener or drink city water
7. You have Type 2 diabetes 
8. You avoid green vegetables, leafy greens, and raw, unprocessed nuts and seeds
9. You are an older adult or take prescription medications 
10. You eat food grown in depleted soils (the majority of the population)

10 Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency

Some experts claim that magnesium deficiency is the single largest health problem in our world today. Following are symptoms that you may be experiencing a deficiency of the vital mineral. 

1. Calcification of the arteries
   Unfortunately, this is one of the first symptoms to appear, as well as one of the most serious. Calcification of the arteries can occur from low magnesium levels. As a result, one’s preposition to develop coronary problems, like heart attacks, heart failure, and heart disease, is increased. 
   Magnesium’s ability to prevent over-calcification is one reason why the Framingham Health Study found that consuming enough magnesium lowers the risk of coronary heart disease. Believe it or not, half of all heart attack patients received injections of magnesium chloride to help stop the blood clotting and calcification. 
2. Muscle Spasming & Cramping
   This is one of the most notable symptoms of being deficient in magnesium. Just as calcification can cause stiffening of the arteries, it can cause stiffening of muscle tissue, as well. This can result in awful cramps and spasms. Fortunately, consuming enough magnesium (or supplementing the nutrient) can reduce the incidence of this symptom. 
3. Anxiety & Depression
   Anxiety and depression affect millions of people. Could something as simple as magnesium  help to reduce the blues? Research suggests “yes.”Psychology Today explains one possible reason:
   “Magnesium hangs out in the synapse between two neurons along with calcium and glutamate. If you recall, calcium and glutamate are excitatory, and in excess, toxic (link is external). They activate the NMDA receptor. Magnesium can sit on the NMDA receptor without activating it, like a guard at the gate. Therefore, if we are deficient in magnesium, there’s no guard. Calcium and glutamate can activate the receptor like there is no tomorrow. In the long term, this damages the neurons, eventually leading to cell death. In the brain, that is not an easy situation to reverse or remedy.”
4. Hormone Imbalances
   If you experience crazy “ups” and “downs” before or after your period, it’s likely your body is deficient in magnesium. The higher the estrogen or progesterone levels in a woman’s body, the lower the magnesium. This is also why why pregnant women experience more leg cramps.
   According to Dr. Carolyn Dean, author of the book The Magnesium Miracle, muscle cramps related to the menstrual cycle can also be related to magnesium levels. She recommends women with bad PMS and cramps take magnesium early in their cycles before the symptoms begin. 
5. High Blood Pressure / Hypertension
   A Harvard study with over 70,000 people found that those with the highest magnesium intake had the healthiest blood pressure numbers. A follow-up meta-analysis of available studies showed a dose-dependent reduction of blood pressure with magnesium supplementation.
   That’s not all — a University of Minnesota study found that the risk for hypertension was 70 percent lower in women with adequate/high magnesium levels. 
6. Pregnancy Discomfort
   Similar to hormone problems, low magnesium levels can adversely affect pregnancy health and mood. Some women report less morning sickness during pregnancy when supplementing with transdermal magnesium.
   Magnesium can also reduce hypertension and muscle cramps during pregnancy. Supplementation can also help to ward off preterm labor and alleviate headaches. 
7. Low Energy
   You may remember from biology class that magnesium is required in the reactions that create ATP energy in cells. As Wellness Mama summarizes, ATP or adenosine triphosphate is the main source of energy in the cells. To be active, it must bind to a magnesium ion.
   In other words, without magnesium, you literally won’t have energy on a cellular level. This can show up as fatigue, low energy, lack of drive, and other problems. 
8. Bone Health
   Most people regard calcium as the most important mineral for healthy bones. While it is important, magnesium may even be more so! In cases of magnesium deficiency, the bone suffer in the following ways: 
   1. Vitamin D Absorption
      Magnesium is essential for vitamin D to turn on calcium absorption. That’s why magnesium supplementation may be necessary when taking vitamin D (or else levels may become even more depleted). 
   2. Proper Calcium Use
      Magnesium is required to stimulate the hormone calcitonin which draws calcium out of the muscles and tissues and into the bones. This helps explain why magnesium helps lower the risk of osteoporosis, arthritis, kidney stones, and heart attack. 
9. Sleep Problems
   Melatonin, chamomile, and lavender are all helpful aids to snooze peacefully. However, magnesium is the ultimate relaxation mineral, as Dr. Mark Hyman says. Magnesium helps to relax the body and the mind, which both contribute to restful sleep. Furthermore, magnesium is required for proper function of the GABA receptors in the brain. GABA is the neurotransmitter that allows the brain to transition to a restful state.
10. Other Symptoms
    A number of vitamins and minerals work synergistically and magnesium tops the list. It is needed for the proper utilization of calcium, potassium, vitamin K, vitamin D, and other nutrients. By using magnesium externally or transdermally (“across the skin”), the body can absorb what it needs without absorbing too much. 

The Best Ways To Boost Your Magnesium Levels 

Believe it or not, magnesium deficiency is actually quite simple for the body to resolve with the right form of magnesium. Most of the supplements on the market are pills or solutions taken internally. Though these can be effective, they can also cause digestive disturbances or stress the kidney (definitely not ideal during pregnancy). Furthermore, experts estimate that magnesium absorption in the digestive system ranges from 20-55%, depending on the source. That means more than half of the magnesium leaves the body as waste. 

Research currently shows that a combination of oral magnesium (in the right form) and topical magnesium is ideal for boosting low levels. A slow-release option can have an absorption rate up to 85%. This one, for example, has been formulated to decrease digestive distress. It also contains B vitamins. 

Foods Abundant in Magnesium

If supplements aren’t for you — no worries! There are plenty of nutrient-dense foods that are rich sources of magnesium. The following contain high levels of the anti-stress mineral: 

• Dark chocolate 
• Nuts and seeds (specifically pumpkin seeds)
• Avocados
• Bananas
• Leafy greens (kale, spinach and chard)
• Wild-caught fish
• Himalayan pink sea salt
• Sea vegetables
• Sprouts
• Grass-fed dairy (though controversial in certain dietary camps)

For recipe ideas, visit Life in Bloom. 

Summary

Nearly everyone is magnesium deficient. However, it is a relatively simple deficiency to correct — if you take action to eat more magnesium-rich foods or supplement. If you experience any of the symptoms above, consult with your doctor and/or receive a blood panel to determine if you are deficient. At the very least, consuming more magnesium-rich foods will reduce your chances or experiencing hardening of the arteries, enhance your sleep, and help balance your mood. 

Sources:

1. Aarhus University. (2013, October 4). Research reveals the mechanism of the sodium-potassium pump. ScienceDaily.
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3. Hruby A et al., Magnesium intake is inversely associated with coronary artery calcification: the Framingham Heart Study. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2014;7(1):59-69.
4. Sun Ha Jee, et al., The effect of magnesium supplementation on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. American Journal of Hypertension 2012;15(8):691–696.
5. Zofková I, Kancheva RL. The relationship between magnesium and calciotropic hormones. Magnes Res. 1995;8(1):77-84.
6. Rude RK, Olerich M. Magnesium deficiency: possible role in osteoporosis associated with gluten-sensitive enteropathy. Osteoporos Int. 1996;6(6):453-61.