You may not be aware of magnesium, but it is working to keep your heart and muscles functioning properly. Low levels of magnesium can cause you to feel nauseated, weak and tired. Continued deficiency can cause heart abnormalities, personality changes and seizures. If you suspect a magnesium deficiency, check with your doctor before starting any supplementation; taking magnesium with some medications or conditions can be dangerous.
Gastrointestinal Causes
Problems with the stomach and intestines that can cause a magnesium deficiency. Excessive diarrhea and vomiting can be a primary cause. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, absorption disorders such as Crohn's disease, gluten sensitive enteropathy, regional enteritis and surgery involving the intestine may interfere with blood levels of magnesium. Patients in the hospital on tube feedings or total parenteral nutrition can have magnesium deficiencies. Of course, simply not eating enough magnesium can cause a deficiency, but this is rare.
Kidney Causes
The kidneys are in charge of managing electrolytes. which are special minerals involved in many body functions; magnesium is one of these minerals. Your kidneys can cause too much magnesium to be voided in the urine. Poorly controlled diabetics are at risk for this deficiency because they urinate frequently and lose magnesium in the process. Having too much calcium or too little phosphorous also can interfere with magnesium absorption, as can imbalances in potassium. The kidneys also regulate hormones, and hormones such as aldosterone and the thyroid hormones can affect magnesium, according to an article in the "Journal of Family Practice." Physical disorders of the kidney also can cause magnesium deficiencies.
Medication Causes
Medications can cause the body's magnesium stores to deplete. The most common problem medications are diuretics such as bumex, lasix and hydrochlorothiazide. Anti-cancer drugs such as cisplatin can also cause the body to lose magnesium. The antibiotic gentamicin can deplete magnesium, and amphotericin, an antifungal drug, causes low magnesium levels.
Other Causes
Alcoholism can cause low magnesium levels. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, 90 percent of all patients going through alcohol withdrawal need magnesium supplementation. Acidosis, or a high pH level in the blood caused by uncontrolled diabetes and other things, can cause magnesium to dip very low. According to an article in the "Journal of Family Practice," massive blood transfusions, burns and excessive sweating are other little-known causes of magnesium deficiency.
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