Hypomagnesemia means the level of magnesium in your blood is too low. Magnesium is an electrolyte that’s vital for every organ in your body.
Electrolytes are minerals that balance your body’s fluid and pH levels. They also regulate nerve and muscle function, among other things.
Usually, your body keeps magnesium levels within a healthy range. But some health conditions or medicines might cause your levels to drop. If that happens, it can lead to serious problems, including problems with how your heart works.
Magnesium’s Role in Your Body
Your body uses magnesium in more than 300 different chemical reactions throughout your body. It’s essential for:
- Regulating how your muscles and nerves work.
- Making proteins throughout your body.
- Building strong bones.
- Helping to control blood pressure and blood sugar.
- Making DNA.
- Moving other electrolytes into your cells.
Magnesium works along with other electrolyte minerals in your body, like calcium, phosphorus, and potassium. When magnesium levels get too low, it affects other electrolyte levels. One essential role of electrolytes is regulating your heart rate.
Hypomagnesemia Causes
You can develop hypomagnesemia if you’re malnourished and don’t eat enough magnesium-rich foods. Or you might lose too much magnesium because of a health condition, such as:
- Inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis.
- Celiac disease.
- Pancreatitis.
- Gastric bypass surgery for weight loss.
- Certain kidney diseases.
- Alcoholism.
Also, certain medicines can cause you to absorb less magnesium or lose too much magnesium. Some of these medicines include:
- Diuretic medicines that lower blood pressure.
- PPI medicines that lower stomach acid.
- Some types of IV antibiotics.
- Certain chemotherapy medicines.
If you have any of these health conditions or take these medicines, ask your health care provider if you need extra magnesium.
Signs and Symptoms of Low Magnesium
Typically, magnesium levels stay between 1.46 to 2.68 mg/dL. Hypomagnesemia means your blood level of magnesium is less than 1.46 mg/dL. When your magnesium levels fall below normal, that can quickly affect nerves and muscles in your body, including your heart.
If your magnesium levels are a little bit low, you probably won’t have severe symptoms. Instead, you might just feel “off,” or maybe like you have a stomach bug. These are some early signs of low magnesium:
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Poor appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Magnesium levels can quickly fall if you have severe vomiting, diarrhea, or frequent urination. Symptoms of severe hypomagnesemia include:
- Muscle spasms
- Numbness
- Seizures
- Irregular heartbeat
- Heart spasms
- Coma
If you have these symptoms call your doctor. Severe hypomagnesemia is dangerous and possibly deadly.
Hypomagnesemia Treatment and Prevention
If your bloodwork shows you have hypomagnesemia, your health care provider will treat it by giving you extra magnesium. If it’s slightly low and you don’t have severe symptoms, you might be able to take a magnesium pill. But if it’s dangerously low, you’ll get an IV infusion of magnesium.
It can take more than 24 hours for IV magnesium to bring your levels up to normal. Your health care provider will also check your other electrolyte levels since magnesium works with them. More than likely, they’ll also do an ECG to make sure your heart rate is normal.
While hypomagnesemia treatment is effective, prevention is the best medicine. It’s essential to get enough magnesium in your diet every day. The exact amount you need varies a bit depending on your age, sex, and health conditions.
These are the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for magnesium:
- Adult males over the age of 18 need 400 mg per day.
- Men over 30 should get 420 mg per day.
- Adult women over the age of 18 need 310 mg and 350 mg per day if they’re pregnant.
- Women over 30 need 320 mg per day or 360 mg per day if they’re pregnant.
Eating a magnesium-rich diet is the best way to meet your magnesium needs. These foods are especially rich in magnesium:
- Pumpkin and chia seeds.
- Almonds, cashews, and peanuts.
- Spinach.
- Whole grains like 100% whole wheat cereal or bread, brown rice, or oats.
- Kidney or black beans, and edamame.
Most whole foods have some magnesium, but highly processed packaged foods are low in magnesium. If you need help planning a magnesium-rich diet, work with a registered dietitian. They can determine if you’re getting enough or if you should take a magnesium supplement.