What is the prevalence of hypomagnesemia in the United States?

From the Guidelines

Magnesium deficiency is a significant concern in the United States, with approximately 12% of hospitalized patients and up to 60-65% of critically ill patients affected, as reported in the most recent study 1. The prevalence of magnesium deficiency in the United States is a notable health issue, particularly in certain populations.

• Hospitalized patients with acute or chronic kidney disease are at higher risk due to increased magnesium removal during kidney replacement therapy (KRT) 1.
• Critically ill patients are also more susceptible, with an incidence of hypomagnesemia ranging from 60-65% 1.
• Other factors contributing to magnesium deficiency include diarrhea, malabsorption syndrome, chronic use of proton pump inhibitors and diuretics, hypercalcemia, and volume expansion 1. The recommended daily allowance for magnesium is 400-420mg for adult men and 310-320mg for adult women, with common food sources including green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and legumes.
• Symptoms of deficiency can include muscle cramps, fatigue, irritability, abnormal heart rhythms, and weakness.
• Blood tests may not accurately reflect total body magnesium status since only 1% of magnesium is in the bloodstream, with most stored in bones and soft tissues 1. It is essential to prioritize magnesium deficiency prevention and treatment, given its critical role in over 300 biochemical reactions in the body, including energy production, protein synthesis, muscle and nerve function, blood glucose control, and bone development 1.

From the Research

Prevalence of Magnesium Deficiency in the United States

• The prevalence of magnesium deficiency in the United States is a significant public health concern, with over half of the adult population not consuming adequate amounts of magnesium 2.
• According to a study published in 2018, large, cross-sectional, population-based data sets confirm that a substantial proportion of the adult population in the United States does not consume adequate amounts of magnesium 2.
• Another study published in 2012 found that almost half (48%) of the US population consumed less than the required amount of magnesium from food in 2005-2006 3.
• A study published in 2003 analyzed the 24-h dietary recall data from 4257 participants aged >or=20 y from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2000 and found that substantial numbers of U.S. adults fail to consume adequate magnesium in their diets 4.

Factors Contributing to Magnesium Deficiency

• Changes in agricultural practices and dietary patterns have affected magnesium consumption over time 2.
• The rising calcium-to-magnesium food-intake ratios among adults and the elderly in the United States may contribute to magnesium deficiency 3.
• Racial or ethnic disparities in magnesium intake exist, with Caucasians having significantly higher mean intakes of dietary magnesium than African Americans but not Mexican Americans 4.
• Magnesium intake decreases with increasing age, and men have higher intakes of magnesium than women for each of the three race or ethnic groups 4.

Health Consequences of Magnesium Deficiency

• Magnesium deficiency is associated with various health problems, including type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, elevated C-reactive protein, hypertension, atherosclerotic vascular disease, sudden cardiac death, osteoporosis, migraine headache, asthma, and colon cancer 3.
• Hypomagnesemia can produce a wide variety of clinical presentations, including neuromuscular irritability, cardiac arrhythmias, and increased sensitivity to digoxin 5.
• Low magnesium levels are associated with several complications, such as hypertension, vascular calcification, and an increased risk for both cardiovascular disease (CVD) and non-CVD mortality 6.