From the Guidelines
Decreased magnesium levels, known as hypomagnesemia, can be caused by several factors, including gastrointestinal disorders, certain medications, and endocrine disorders, as well as poor dietary intake and excessive loss through the kidneys or intestines, as noted in studies such as 1.
Causes of Hypomagnesemia
The causes of hypomagnesemia can be broadly categorized into:
- Poor dietary intake of magnesium-rich foods
- Gastrointestinal disorders that affect absorption, such as Crohn's disease, celiac disease, or chronic diarrhea, which can lead to increased gastrointestinal losses, as reported in 1
- Certain medications, including diuretics, some antibiotics, and chemotherapy drugs, which can deplete magnesium, as mentioned in 1
- Endocrine disorders like diabetes, hyperaldosteronism, and hyperparathyroidism, which can cause magnesium wasting through the kidneys
- Chronic kidney disease, which affects magnesium regulation
- Excessive sweating during intense physical activity, which can deplete magnesium
- Severe burns, pancreatitis, and other acute conditions, which may also reduce magnesium levels
Importance of Magnesium
Maintaining adequate magnesium is essential for proper nerve and muscle function, heart rhythm, bone health, and hundreds of enzymatic reactions in the body. It is crucial to identify and address the underlying cause of hypomagnesemia to prevent complications and improve patient outcomes, as emphasized in 1.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosing hypomagnesemia involves measuring serum magnesium levels, although this may not always accurately reflect magnesium status, as noted in 1. Treatment typically involves addressing the underlying cause, such as supplementing magnesium orally or intravenously, and managing related conditions like malnutrition or endocrine disorders. In patients with inflammatory bowel disease, magnesium deficiency is common, and supplementation can be given orally or intravenously, although oral supplementation can worsen diarrhea, as reported in 1.
From the Research
Factors Leading to Decreased Magnesium Levels
- Dietary magnesium deficiency, which can be prevalent due to the average American diet being deficient in magnesium, especially in young individuals, alcoholics, those under stress, or with certain diseases or receiving specific drug therapies 2
- Increased magnesium needs in certain individuals, such as those with diseases or receiving certain drug therapies, which can lead to decreased magnesium levels if not met 2
- Use of diuretics, which can intensify an underlying magnesium deficiency and lead to cardiac arrhythmias 2, 3, 4
- Digitalis, which can also intensify an underlying magnesium deficiency 2
- Common dietary practices, such as refined and processed foods, which can contribute to magnesium deficiency 5
- Medications, such as diuretics, which can cause magnesium losses 5, 3, 4
- Farming techniques, which can lead to a decline in the mineral content of vegetables, including magnesium 5
- Decreases in food crop magnesium contents, which can increase the risk of magnesium deficiency 6
- Availability of refined and processed foods, which can contribute to magnesium deficiency 6
Population Groups at Risk
- Young individuals, who may have increased magnesium needs due to growth and development 2
- Alcoholics, who may have increased magnesium needs due to poor diet and increased excretion 2
- Individuals under stress, who may have increased magnesium needs due to the body's response to stress 2
- Those with certain diseases, such as congestive heart failure, who may have increased magnesium needs due to the disease process or treatment 2, 3
- Individuals receiving certain drug therapies, such as diuretics, which can cause magnesium losses 2, 3, 4