Hypomagnesemia is a condition defined by lower than normal levels of magnesium ions in the blood of an animal.  For the human the normal range is considered to be around 3 mM  [Edit ]

The causes of hypomagnesemia may be many.  It could be due to lack of Mg in the diet or water.  It may also be due to failure to absorb the Mg into the blood stream from the gastrointestinal tract.  It could also be due to the excess excretion and/or lack of reabsorption from the kidneys.

Normal dietary requirements vary with size, weight, age,  gender, lifestyle and other conditions.  The   following chart gives only approximate values:

Diseases/Conditions that may relate to Hypomagnesemia include the following:

Gitelmann's Syndrome - ventricular tachycardia - hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia combination.

Malabsorption syndromes of all causes (e.g. kwashiorkor)

Lactation - increases the requirement for Mg (Merck Manual p. 1201, 13th ed)

Kidney diseases - Excessive Mg wasting (loss) from kidneys (or abnormal renal conservation (such as hypersecretion of aldosterone, ADH, or thyroid hormone, diabetic acidosis, diuretic therapy, et al.

Parathyroid diseases in which a tumor of the parathyroid gland is removed

 Others

Clinical manifestations of hypomagnesemia:

Muscle fatigue or dystonias

Cardiac arrhythmias - mitral valve prolapse (Holland & Barrett

High blood pressure

Aches and pains

Siezures

Dizziness

Muscle spasms

Remedies for low blood magnesium include changing one's diet to including more green vegetables and other foods rich in magnesium.  One may also take daily supplements of for example Mg Oxide.  Typical amounts in a Mg oxide pill is 400 mg.

Mg levels in the urine or other body fluids (saliva, sweat) have not been studied sufficiently to determine whether the levels are indicative of tissue or blood levels.  It is generally accepted that measurement of free Mg++ ions in the blood is a better indicator of clinical manifestations.  This requires a special ion selective electrode to make this determination.  Another indicator is the level of Mg in red blood cells although it is not clear why this should be a good predictor of muscle tissue levels.

See Methods for testing Mg and references.

This page is under development.

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