What are the symptoms of magnesium deficiency?

What is magnesium and why is it important?

Essential for maintaining good health, magnesium is a mineral which participates in more than 300 key biochemical reactions in the body (1).

It’s involved in nervous system function, bone and dental health, the muscular system, as well as psychological function.

Despite its importance, a significant percentage of the population is lacking in magnesium, often without realising it…

What are the symptoms of a lack of magnesium?

Common symptoms

A lack of magnesium can manifest in various ways but common signs include:

• fatigue;
• muscle cramps;
• migraines;
• and sleep problems (2).

Anxiety and nervous tension may also be symptoms of inadequate magnesium levels.

Less common symptoms

A lack of magnesium may also cause:

• pain in the legs;
• nausea;
• tingling and numbness;
• heart palpitations;
• blurred vision;
• and dizziness.

If you have any of these symptoms, be sure to consult a health professional.

How to find out if you’re magnesium-deficient

If you suspect you’re lacking in this important mineral, the best approach is to consult a doctor or nutritionist who will be able to test your magnesium levels. This will accurately identify whether you are indeed deficient in magnesium and if so, to what extent.

Magnesium deficiency: the risks to health

In addition to the above-mentioned chronic symptoms (persistent fatigue, frequent headaches, stress, anxiety…), a prolonged lack of magnesium can have more serious consequences for health, including:

• osteoporosis;
• fibromyalgia;
• depression;
• type 2 diabetes;
• hypertension;
• and heart disease (3).

It’s therefore crucial to ensure you have an adequate magnesium intake.

What are the causes of magnesium deficiency?

A number of factors can lead to magnesium deficiency, including poor diet, stress, ageing, intensive exercise, excessive alcohol intake…

Drugs can also be a contributing factor (the contraceptive pill, certain antibiotics, diuretics, immunosuppressant treatments, PPIs…), as can certain medical conditions (intestinal, kidney and endocrine diseases…) (4).

How to address a lack of magnesium

Some general rules

To prevent or correct a deficiency in magnesium, monitor the drugs you’re taking, make sure you stay well-hydrated (to help you absorb the minerals you consume) and limit your alcohol and caffeine intake (which interfere with magnesium absorption).

Manage your stress levels effectively to prevent your magnesium reserves from being exhausted too quickly (opt for meditation, yoga, deep breathing, exercise…).

Dietary sources of magnesium

Above all, make sure you include foods rich in this mineral in your daily diet. Focus on:

Oilseeds

Oilseeds, such as almonds, walnuts and seeds, are all good sources of magnesium. Almonds, in particular, provide around 270mg of magnesium per 100g, representing almost 72% of the recommended daily amount for an adult.

Pulses

Pulses, such as lentils, beans and chickpeas, are also excellent sources of magnesium. For example, 100g of chickpeas contains around 115mg of magnesium.

Cocoa

Surprisingly, cocoa is also a significant source of magnesium. A cup of cocoa powder contains up to 520mg of magnesium. Opt for unsweetened cocoa powder and dark chocolate (but don’t overdo it!).

Wholegrains

Wholegrains, especially brown rice and quinoa, also provide a substantial amount of magnesium.

Seafood

Oily fish (anchovies, mackerel…) and shellfish (winkles, shrimps, mussels…) are rich in magnesium.

Green leafy vegetables

Green leafy vegetables , such as spinach and Swiss chard, are another excellent source of magnesium.

Magnesium supplements

To benefit from a higher intake, dietary supplements can also be recommended.

Which magnesium supplements should you choose?

Magnesium malate, a classic

Magnesium malate is a good, classic form of magnesium, popular for its ability to chelate aluminium, a heavy metal which accumulates in the body. It also has good digestive tolerance and is reasonably-priced.

The powerful effects of magnesium orotate

Alternatively, you could opt for the highly-effective magnesium orotate. This form is widely recommended for its orotic acid content, which transports the magnesium efficiently within the body for optimal bioavailability.

Combining several forms

Some magnesium supplements combine, to good effect, several different forms of the mineral, for a synergistic action (such as OptiMag, which offers 8 forms of magnesium: magnesium arginate, taurinate, bisglycinate, etc.)

Special features of magnesium threonate

Last but not least, there’s magnesium threonate, a major discovery in the field of cognitive health, as it has the distinctive feature of being able to cross the blood-brain barrier and thus reach the brain (5).

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