Magnesium in diet
Alternative Names
Diet - magnesiumSide Effects
Side effects from increased magnesium intake are not common because the body removes excess amounts. Magnesium excess almost always occurs only when magnesium is supplemented as a medication.
Lack of magnesium (deficiency) is rare. The symptoms include:
- Hyperexcitability
- Muscle weakness
- Sleepiness
Deficiency of magnesium can occur in people who abuse alcohol or in those who absorb less magnesium due to:
- Burns
- Certain medications
- Low blood levels of calcium
- Problems absorbing nutrients from the intestinal tract (malabsorption)
- Surgery
Symptoms due to a lack of magnesium have three categories.
Early symptoms:
- Anorexia
- Apathy
- Confusion
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Muscle twitching
- Poor memory
- Reduced ability to learn
Moderate deficiency symptoms:
- Heart (cardiovascular) changes
- Rapid heartbeat
Severe deficiency:
- Continued muscle contraction
- Delirium
- Numbness
- Seeing or hearing things that aren't there (hallucinations)
- Tingling
References
Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. DRI Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Fluoride. Washington, DC: National Academy Press; 1997.
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