What Are The Treatments For Magnesium Deficiency?

Magnesium plays an important role in the functioning of the muscles, and the body requires this mineral for more than 300 biochemical reactions. MedlinePlus notes the body needs 80 to 320mg each day, depending on age. Magnesium deficiency can lead to muscle weakness and sleepiness and can occur due to reduced dietary intake or due to reduced absorption of magnesium by the body.

Diet

Whole grains, legumes and dark green and leafy vegetables are rich sources of magnesium and, according to the National Institute of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements, dietary magnesium provides and maintains the recommended levels in the body. Mild magnesium deficiencies can be restored by consuming high quantities of magnesium-rich foods, but increasing dietary intake of magnesium may not be enough to treat severe magnesium deficiencies.

Oral Magnesium Supplements

Oral magnesium supplements are generally made up of salts of magnesium, such as magnesium oxide, magnesium sulfate and magnesium carbonate. The dosage refers only to the magnesium present in the supplement and, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements, the effectiveness of a magnesium supplement depends on the amount of magnesium present in it and the ease with which the patient's body can absorb it. Magnesium chloride and magnesium lactate supplements are more effective than magnesium oxide supplement.

Upset stomach and diarrhea are the most common side effects of magnesium supplements. Also, magnesium competes with calcium for absorption and excessive doses of magnesium can cause calcium deficiency.

Magnesium Injections

Intravenous administration of magnesium is recommended for patients with extremely low levels of the mineral in their blood and is given under the supervision of a health care professional. A clinical trial report, published in the August 2009 edition of "Pain Medicine," states that intravenous administration of magnesium sulfate for five days, using an IV bag and a hypodermic needle, provides significant relief to patients with pain due to magnesium deficiency. MayoClinic.com warns against the use of magnesium supplements in patients with kidney failure, as they are unable to excrete even dietary magnesium efficiently.