Magnesium food supplements are sold in a variety of forms. However, the Office of Dietary Supplements, or ODS, points out that magnesium deficiency is a rarity in the United States. Magnesium supplements are helpful if your body has difficulty absorbing this vital mineral, if you have a medical condition that causes excessive magnesium loss. Always talk to your treating physician before taking magnesium supplements to address your dietary or health concerns.
Magnesium Overview
Magnesium is a mineral you need for the cells in your body to work, states the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Classified as a macromineral, magnesium helps you build bones and teeth and is needed for normal functioning of nerves and muscles. As a dietary source, magnesium is present in foods, such as leafy green vegetables, grains, nuts, beans and tomato paste. The Recommended Dietary Allowance, or RDA, of magnesium for adult men is 420mg a day. Adult women need at least 320mg of magnesium daily.
Types of Magnesium Supplements
There are numerous types of magnesium supplements, including magnesium gluconate, magnesium citrate and magnesium lactate, says the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC. Your body absorbs these types of magnesium more readily than others. Magnesium hydroxide is a type of magnesium generally used in nonprescription laxatives and antacids. Magnesium sulfate is also used in laxatives, as well as multivitamins.
When Used
Your doctor may recommend magnesium supplements if you take drugs, such as diuretics, antibiotics and cancer medications, says the ODS. People with alcoholism and those who cannot control their diabetes may also take magnesium supplements. Medical conditions that cause nutrient malabsorption, such as Crohn's disease, may also warrant additional magnesium. The elderly population is particularly at risk for magnesium deficiency, according to the ODS. Your doctor can tell you if you need to take magnesium supplements.
Magnesium Supplement Cautions
Any dietary supplement can cause side effects and interact with the drugs you take, cautions the UMMC. Side effects associated with magnesium supplements include stomach upset and diarrhea. Don't take magnesium supplements if you have heart or kidney disease unless your treating physician recommends you to do so. Avoid giving magnesium supplements to children unless you have a pediatrician's OK. Magnesium supplements may interfere with other medications you take by affecting the way your body absorbs them or by enhancing the medication's negative side effects.
FDA Classification
Magnesium supplements are classified as dietary supplements by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Over-the-counter products you purchase from the drugstore or market cannot purport to treat or cure a specific medical condition. Please consult with your treating physician before taking magnesium supplements to address your health concerns.
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