How Do I Recognize Magnesium Deficiency Symptoms?

Magnesium is one of the essential elements in the human body. The content of magnesium in cations in cells is second only to potassium. Magnesium is widely present in various tissues in the body and participates in many biological processes. It has the ability to maintain muscle contractility and nerve stress. And can activate many enzymes in the body and promote energy metabolism. The normal concentration of serum magnesium is 0.80 to 1.20 mmol / L. Its regulation is mainly done by the kidneys. The kidneys excrete magnesium and potassium similarly, that is, despite the decrease in serum magnesium concentration, the renal magnesium excretion does not stop. In many diseases, abnormal magnesium metabolism can often occur. Hypomagnesemia is called when serum magnesium is less than 0.75mmol / L.

Magnesium is one of the essential elements in the human body. The content of magnesium in cations in cells is second only to potassium. Magnesium is widely present in various tissues in the body and participates in many biological processes. It has the ability to maintain muscle contractility and nerve stress. And can activate many enzymes in the body and promote energy metabolism. The normal concentration of serum magnesium is 0.80 to 1.20 mmol / L. Its regulation is mainly done by the kidneys. The kidneys excrete magnesium and potassium similarly, that is, despite the decrease in serum magnesium concentration, the renal magnesium excretion does not stop. In many diseases, abnormal magnesium metabolism can often occur. Hypomagnesemia is called when serum magnesium is less than 0.75mmol / L.

Causes of magnesium deficiency

Food is rich in magnesium. As long as the diet is normal, the body will not cause magnesium deficiency. Common reasons are:

1. Excessive loss of the digestive tract, due to magnesium absorption in the small intestine and part of the colon, hypomagnesemia can be caused when severe diarrhea, fatty diarrhea, malabsorption, intestinal fistula, major small bowel resection, etc .;

2. Excessive kidney loss: such as chronic pyelonephritis, renal tubular acidosis, polyuria of acute renal failure, or long-term application of diuretics, thiazines, and osmotic diuretics, which cause renal loss of magnesium and hypomagnesemia Anemia

3. Insufficient supplementation, insufficient magnesium supplementation in malnutrition, nutritional support solutions for certain diseases, or even long-term treatment with magnesium-free solutions;

4. Patients with hyperthyroidism are often accompanied by hypomagnesemia and negative nitrogen balance. Primary hyperparathyroidism can cause symptomatic magnesium deficiency.

Clinical manifestations of magnesium deficiency

Early manifestations of magnesium deficiency often include anorexia, nausea, vomiting, weakness and apathy. Aggravated magnesium deficiency may have memory loss, nervousness, irritability, unconsciousness, irritability, and hand, foot, and throbbing movements. In severe magnesium deficiency, seizures may occur. Because magnesium deficiency is often accompanied by potassium and calcium deficiency, it is difficult to determine which symptoms are caused by magnesium deficiency.

In addition, arrhythmia can be caused during hypomagnesemia. Magnesium is necessary for activating Na ⁺ -K ⁺ -ATPase. Deficiency of magnesium can cause myocardial cells to lose potassium. The electrocardiogram can show that the PR and QT intervals are extended, the QRS wave is widened, the ST segment is decreased, and the T wave is widened and low Flat or inverted, occasionally U-waves, confused with hypokalemia, or related to changes in serum potassium and calcium.

Magnesium deficiency test

1. Determination of serum magnesium.

2. Magnesium load test.

Diagnosis of magnesium deficiency

The easiest method is to measure serum magnesium. However, the diagnosis of magnesium deficiency is sometimes difficult, and sometimes serum magnesium is normal. Hypomagnesemia cannot be denied because it is affected by changes in pH, protein, and other factors.

For some patients who have hypoglycemia due to predisposing factors, their symptoms are difficult to distinguish from hypokalemia. If the situation does not improve after potassium supplementation, hypomagnesemia should be considered. In addition, in patients with convulsions and suspected to be associated with calcium deficiency, magnesium deficiency should also be suspected when convulsions cannot be relieved after calcium injection. Therefore, comprehensive analysis must be combined with clinical history. If necessary, a magnesium load test can be performed, which is of great help in determining the diagnosis of magnesium deficiency.

Magnesium deficiency treatment

Prevention and treatment of primary diseases

Prevent or eliminate the cause of hypomagnesemia.

2. Magnesium supplement

Severe hypomagnesemia and symptoms, especially various types of arrhythmia, must be promptly supplemented with magnesium. For severe arrhythmias caused by magnesium deficiency, other treatments are often ineffective. Only slow intravenous injection or infusion of magnesium salts (usually magnesium sulfate) will work. Intravenous magnesium supplements should be used with caution, especially if the patient's renal function is impaired. In the process of magnesium supplementation, the serum magnesium concentration must be measured frequently, and it must be prevented from turning into hypermagnesemia due to excessive magnesium supplementation. Intravenous magnesium supplementation in children should also pay special attention to prevent the occurrence of hypotension, because magnesium can expand blood vessels such as peripheral arteries. For mild hypomagnesemia, magnesium can be supplemented by intramuscular injection. The dose of magnesium supplement depends on the degree of magnesium deficiency and the severity of the symptoms.

3. Correct water and other electrolyte metabolism disorders

Including hydration, especially potassium and calcium, because hypomagnesemia is often accompanied by dehydration, hypokalemia, and hypocalcemia.