Magnesium is an essential mineral required by numerous biochemical processes in the body. Roughly half of the magnesium in your body is found in bones; the rest is spread throughout other tissues in your body. Green vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds are the best dietary sources of magnesium. Doctors estimate that many Americans do not ingest enough magnesium in their diets, reports the University of Maryland Medical Center. A deficiency in magnesium can cause several symptoms, including anxiety.
Anxiety
Magnesium is required for proper nerve function; a deficiency can cause several symptoms that affect the brain, including anxiety. Irritability, agitation, apathy, memory loss, confusion and difficulty concentrating are possible mental effects of a magnesium deficiency. Sleep disorders, such as insomnia or restless leg syndrome, are also possible. Left untreated, a severe magnesium deficiency can cause nerve damage, leading to sensations of numbness or tingling in the hands or feet. Personality changes, seizures, hallucinations and delirium may develop in severe cases.
Gastrointestinal Symptoms
A magnesium deficiency can cause several symptoms affecting the gastrointestinal system. Loss of appetite, upset stomach and nausea are often early symptoms of a deficiency; unexplained vomiting may also occur. Left untreated, a magnesium deficiency can cause anorexia and unintended weight loss.
Additional Symptoms
All the muscles in your body, including the heart muscle, require magnesium to function properly. A deficiency can result in general fatigue, muscle weakness, muscle cramps and muscle spasms. The function of the heart may also be disturbed, resulting in abnormal or rapid heart rhythms. A magnesium deficiency can also interfere with your body's ability to regulate blood pressure, leading to dangerously low blood pressure. Cases of hyperventilation have been reported. Long-term deficiency can upset the balance of other minerals in the body, leading to low levels of calcium or potassium.
Causes of Deficiency
Although many people do not meet the dietary guidelines established for magnesium, low dietary intake by itself rarely results in deficiencies severe enough to cause symptoms, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. Disorders that affect absorption in the gastrointestinal system, such as inflammatory bowel disease or Crohn's disease, are common causes of severe magnesium deficiencies. When intestinal absorption is reduced, the body cannot absorb as much magnesium from food. Age may contribute to magnesium deficiency; as a person grows older, his body becomes less able to absorb magnesium from food, which can increase the risk of a deficiency.
