Magnesium Citrate Deficiency

Magnesium is a naturally occurring mineral that is required for numerous biochemical reactions within the body. Proper functioning of the heart, muscles, immune system and brain all require magnesium. Health supplements containing magnesium are available, which is often formulated in a salt such as magnesium citrate. A deficiency in magnesium may cause a variety of symptoms, some of which can be severe. If you suspect you have a magnesium deficiency, consult your physician.

Magnesium Citrate

Pure magnesium is rarely sold as a health supplement. Instead, magnesium is usually complexed with a type of salt to form compounds such as magnesium citrate, magnesium oxide or magnesium sulfate. Technically speaking, your body requires magnesium, not magnesium citrate. When a magnesium deficiency occurs, it may be treated with magnesium citrate supplements, explains the Office of Dietary Supplements of the National Institutes of Health.

Deficiency Symptoms

The early symptoms of a magnesium deficiency are often non-specific, making diagnosis of the deficiency difficult. Possible symptoms include nausea, vomiting, appetite loss, fatigue and weakness, the Office of Dietary Supplements of the National Institutes of Health reports. Agitation, anxiety, irritability and sleep disorders may also occur. Severe deficiencies in magnesium may lead to low levels of calcium and potassium in the blood.

Neurological Symptoms

Due to the role of magnesium in brain and nerve function, severe magnesium deficiencies can result in neurological symptoms, such as numbness or tingling sensations in the hands and feet. Muscle spasms or tremors may also occur, which may lead to convulsion or seizures, warns the University of Maryland Medical Center. Magnesium deficiencies can also lead to alterations in heart rhythm and blood pressure, as well as unexplained hyperventilation and poor nail growth.

Causes

Magnesium deficiency caused by dietary insufficiency is rare, because magnesium is present in most plants and animals, explains the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. Frequently, a magnesium deficiency is caused by an underlying health condition. Gastrointestinal disorders such as Crohn's disease or celiac disease may cause magnesium deficiencies by preventing the body from absorbing magnesium. Similarly, as people age, the body loses its ability to absorb magnesium, which increases the risk of deficiency. In contrast, certain kidney disorders can cause the body to excrete too much magnesium, resulting in a deficiency.

Magnesium Citrate Deficiency