Magnesium is a mineral that is vital to most tissues and organs in the body, including the muscles, heart and brain. Deficiencies in magnesium can cause a variety of different symptoms, including changes in muscle activity such as tremors, spasms and contractions. Magnesium deficiencies may cause serious health effects if not treated, and you should consult your doctor if you suspect you are deficient in magnesium.
Muscle Effects
Roughly 27 percent of all the magnesium in your body is found in muscles, reports the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. Magnesium plays a key role in several muscle functions, including regulating muscle contraction. When a magnesium deficiency occurs, muscle activity may be affected. Uncontrollable muscle contractions are possible, which can result in muscle tremors and spasms.
Early Symptoms
The early signs of a magnesium deficiency are often nonspecific, which can make diagnosis of a magnesium deficiency difficult, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements of the National Institutes of Health. Possible early symptoms include nausea, appetite loss and vomiting. Feelings of weakness and general fatigue are also possible.
Severe Symptoms
Left untreated, a magnesium deficiency can cause severe symptoms, including dangerously low blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms and difficulty breathing, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Changes in personality such as confusion, anxiety, agitation and irritability may also develop. Sleep disorders such as insomnia and restless leg syndrome are also possible. In extreme cases, seizures may occur. A deficiency in magnesium can also lead to deficiencies in other minerals, such as calcium and potassium.
Causes of Deficiency
Although mild magnesium deficiency is not uncommon in the United States, deficiencies that are severe enough to cause symptoms occur rarely, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. Most plant and animal food sources contain magnesium, which makes a severe magnesium deficiency rare. Cases of severe magnesium deficiency that do occur are typically the result of some other underlying health condition such as gastrointestinal disorders, kidney disorders or chronic alcoholism, reports the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University.
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