Signs and symptoms of magnesium deficiency, and causes

Signs and symptoms of magnesium deficiency

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.

Causes

Magnesium deficiency may be caused due to 

1. Diet,
2. Alcohol abuse,
3. Chronic stress,
4. Poorly controlled diabetes,
5. Excessive or chronic vomiting and/or diarrhea.
6. Phytate or oxalate in the diet may bind magnesium causing it to be eliminated from rather than absorbed in the colon.
7. Certain drugs can deplete magnesium levels such as osmotic diuretics, cisplatin, ciclosporin, amphetamines, and possibly proton pump inhibitors.

Also deficiency may occur in Bartter syndrome and Gitelman syndrome.