Magnesium deficiency (medicine)

Magnesium deficiency
Magnesium
Classification and external resources
Specialty	Endocrinology
ICD-10	E61.2
MedlinePlus	002423
[]

Magnesium deficiency or hypomagnesia (not to be confused with hypomagnesemia) refers to inadequate intake of dietary magnesium or impaired absorption of magnesium, which can result in numerous symptoms and diseases. It is generally corrected by an increase of magnesium in diet, oral supplements, and in severe cases, intravenous supplementation.

"Magnesium deficiency" (or "depletion") should be distinguished from hypomagnesemia. Magnesium deficiency encompasses a broader scope, and includes disorders of magnesium metabolism and low intracellular storage. Hypomagnesemia refers only to low serum (blood) levels of magnesium. Therefore, magnesium deficiency can be present without hypomagnesemia, and hypomagnesemia can be present without magnesium deficiency. As a disorder of metabolism, magnesium deficiency can be much harder to treat than hypomagnesemia.

Symptoms of magnesium deficiency include hyperexcitability, muscular symptoms (cramps, tremor, fasciculations, spasms, tetany, weakness), fatigue, loss of appetite, apathy, confusion, insomnia, irritability, poor memory, and reduced ability to learn. Moderate to severe magnesium deficiency can cause tingling or numbness, heart changes, rapid heartbeat, continued muscle contractions, nausea, vomiting, personality changes, delirium, hallucinations, low calcium levels, low serum potassium levels, retention of sodium, low circulating levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH), and potentially death from heart failure. Magnesium plays an important role in carbohydrate metabolism and its deficiency may worsen insulin resistance, a condition that often precedes diabetes, or may be a consequence of insulin resistance.

...
Wikipedia