Magnesium is truly a forgotten electrolyte. Having too much or too little can disrupt the body’s balance. About 60% of our magnesium is stored in the bones and 40% in soft tissues.

How can someone have too little magnesium?

Magnesium is consumed in the diet. Too little magnesium can be due to inadequate intake, loss or malabsorption from the gastrointestinal tract, or loss through the urinary tract. Some people are malnourished and do not have an adequate intake of dietary magnesium.

People with a resected large bowel, people with chronic diarrhea, and those taking a group of medications called proton pump inhibitors (such as Nexium, Prilosec or Protonix) have decreased gastrointestinal absorption of magnesium.

Occasionally the kidneys lose magnesium. This may occur in people taking certain medications, such as diuretics or certain types of chemotherapy. It may also occur in people with uncontrolled diabetes, people recovering from obstruction of the urinary tract, or people with acute kidney injury. There are several familial and genetic disorders of the kidney that prevent the kidney from reclaiming the magnesium it filters.

Having low serum magnesium can result in muscle cramps, depression, cardiac arrhythmias, constipation, tetany and seizures. Speak to your doctor to determine whether your magnesium is low, why it is low, and what specific treatment is recommended to correct it.

Too much magnesium?

People who have acute or chronic kidney disease are not able to remove extra magnesium from the body and may accumulate magnesium in the blood. This can especially occur if they are taking over-the-counter magnesium-containing supplements, magnesium-containing laxatives or enemas, or Epsom salt, which contains magnesium. Occasionally people have a genetic disorder that causes their kidneys to hold on to more magnesium than necessary.

Having a high blood level of magnesium can result in progressive neurologic paralysis, blocking of electrical conduction in the heart, and cardiac arrest.

Speak to your doctor before starting over-the-counter magnesium supplements or before taking magnesium-based laxatives, to make sure it is safe for you to do so.

This article is general information, not advice for your situation. Members can call the office with questions about their own care.