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Magnesium Deficiency: Causes And Treatment Methods

Magnesium, one of the 11 vital minerals in the body, is the lightest metal.

The mineral magnesium plays a very important role for many enzymes in the body’s energy metabolism.

Magnesium, which makes up 0.05% of body weight, is necessary for many of the enzymes in energy metabolism to work.

At the same time, magnesium mineral, which helps to maintain the body acid-base balance, also plays an active role in the muscle and nervous system.

Working together with the calcium mineral, magnesium is responsible for the relaxation of the muscle, and calcium is responsible for the contraction of the muscle.

Magnesium mineral is not only responsible for regulating body blood pressure, but also effective in providing vascular elasticity.

Magnesium, which is found in the structure of bones and teeth, together with calcium and phosphorus, also plays an important role in cell growth and regeneration.

Magnesium Mineral

What Are The Benefits Of Magnesium Mineral?

  • It plays an important role in the growth and regeneration of cells.
  • It strengthens the muscles and provides protein synthesis.
  • It provides relaxation in the nervous and muscular systems. It is also called an anti-stress mineral due to the relaxation in the nervous and muscular system.
  • It participates in homocysteine metabolism, in which body functioning is regulated.
  • Calcium movement in cardiac muscle and smooth muscle cells is regulated by magnesium.
  • By providing flexibility in the heart vessels, it creates preventive effects against heart attacks. It regulates blood pressure by providing vascular flexibility.

Magnesium Deficiency

Magnesium is a mineral found in abundance in the soil, and in this respect, its transition from soil to plants is easily realized and can be taken into the human body through nutrition.

However, magnesium deficiency is among the frequently occurring and overlooked health problems.

Magnesium deficiency may occur as a result of a serious decrease, and in some cases, it may not show any symptoms.

Variable causes of magnesium deficiency can be listed as malnutrition and loss of magnesium in the body.

Generally, alcoholic people are more likely to develop magnesium deficiency.

Magnesium deficiency, also called hypomagnesemia, is severe when the serum magnesium concentration falls below 1.6 mEq/L.

Magnesium Deficiency Symptoms

The physical symptoms of magnesium deficiency in the body are usually manifested by problems in the muscular system. We can list these symptoms as follows:

  • Palpitation of the heart interferes with the regular functioning of the heart muscle.
  • Muscle spasm prevents relaxation of the muscular system.
  • Cramps in the stomach and intestines cause absorption disorders.

Psychological Symptoms

  • Concentration disorder
  • Depression
  • Inability to cope with stress
  • Attention deficit in children
  • State of drowsiness
  • Distractibility
  • Forgetfulness
  • Hyperactivity in children
  • Irritability
  • Learning disability

Biological Symptoms

  • Prominence in signs of aging
  • Increased insulin resistance
  • Serotonin hormone deficiency
  • Oxidative stress
  • Increased risk of type 2 diabetes

Magnesium provides the energy necessary for the functioning of cells. For this reason, a decrease in cell activation, deterioration in cell functions over time, and cell death occur as a result of magnesium deficiency.

What Are The Effects Of Magnesium Deficiency On The Body?

Magnesium deficiency can cause many physiological, psychological and biological diseases in the body.

Muscle Twitches And Cramps

Muscle twitches, tremors and cramps are often the result of magnesium deficiency. These symptoms occur when there is a lack of magnesium, which works with calcium, when there is an excess of calcium influx into the nerve cells.

Mental Disorders

Another consequence of magnesium deficiency is mental disorders. Mental disorders can be defined as mental lethargy or lack of emotion. Mental disorders occur in association with the risk of depression.

Nerve dysfunction may occur due to magnesium deficiency, and it may cause mental problems in some people.

Osteoclasis

The weakening of the bone structure is called osteoporosis. In the later stage of bone resorption, the risk of bone fracture may occur. In addition, the person may experience conditions such as lack of exercise, vitamin D and K deficiencies, and old age.

Fatigue And Muscle Weakness

Fatigue and muscle weakness due to magnesium deficiency; It is manifested by mental and physical exhaustion and weakness.

The situation, which manifests itself with severe and permanent fatigue in the person, can also be a sign of a health problem. In this respect, it should be evaluated together with other symptoms in order to be sure that fatigue occurs due to magnesium deficiency.

Potassium loss occurs in muscle cells as a condition due to magnesium deficiency.

High Blood Pressure

Magnesium deficiency increases blood pressure and therefore the risk of heart disease. Studies show that magnesium deficiency is likely to increase blood pressure.

Asthma

Studies show that magnesium deficiency can cause calcium to accumulate in the muscles lining the airways of the lungs, which can lead to narrowing of the airways. With the narrowing of the respiratory tract, effects that make it difficult for the person to breathe may occur.

Irregular Heartbeat

One of the most important conditions that occur as a result of magnesium deficiency is cardiac arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat. This situation, which often does not cause any symptoms, can cause palpitations that cause the heart to pause in some people.

Studies have shown that patients with heart failure and arrhythmia have lower magnesium levels than healthy people.

How Is Magnesium Deficiency Treated?

The treatment process may vary depending on the severity and type of magnesium deficiency.

Treatment methods such as intravenous drugs, magnesium supplementation (for example, magnesium tablets, etc.) or drugs that reduce symptoms may be used.

Magnesium supplements are usually prescribed for patients whose magnesium level is not very low.

Such drugs can cause diarrhea from time to time, so the dose should be adjusted by the doctor.

It is very important to consult with a doctor before resorting to magnesium supplements.

Not taking adequate doses of supplements for people with magnesium deficiency will not be enough to reduce symptoms.

Also, taking more than the dose recommended by the doctor can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and, in extreme cases, an irregular heart rhythm.

It is very important to use the magnesium supplement given by the doctor with the correct dosage.

In addition, it will be beneficial to eat a healthy and balanced diet.

It is especially recommended to include foods rich in magnesium in a balanced diet.

It is not correct to apply these treatment methods without consulting a doctor and having the necessary tests done.

See also: How Should Vitamin Supplements Be Used?

Sources

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