The physique wants magnesium for greater than 300 biochemical processes.
Magnesium blood ranges of 1.7–2.3 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) are throughout the regular vary, whereas ranges above 2.6 mg/dl can point out hypermagnesemia.
Having an excessive amount of magnesium within the blood is unusual. It’s extra more likely to happen in folks with current well being circumstances, comparable to kidney failure.
Extreme dosage of dietary supplements or drugs may trigger hypermagnesemia.
On this article, we talk about the chance components and signs of a magnesium overdose. We additionally describe why getting sufficient magnesium from the food plan and dietary supplements is essential.
Magnesium is an important mineral. Nevertheless, having an excessive amount of magnesium within the blood could be harmful. The medical time period for that is hypermagnesemia, and a magnesium overdose is one attainable trigger.
Signs of a magnesium overdose
If the physique has absorbed an excessive amount of magnesium, an individual could discover any of the next signs, which might vary from gentle to very extreme:
How probably is a magnesium overdose?
Extreme overdoses of magnesium are uncommon in in any other case wholesome folks. Getting an excessive amount of magnesium from the food plan is just not sometimes a trigger for concern.
Often, a excessive dosage of magnesium from dietary supplements or drugs could cause gentle signs of an overdose, together with diarrhea, nausea, and abdomen cramps.
The next types of magnesium are more than likely to trigger these signs:
Hardly ever, a really excessive dosage of a complement or medicine supplies greater than 5,000 mg of magnesium per day. This could trigger magnesium toxicity. The medicines concerned are sometimes laxatives or antacids.
The kidneys clear extra magnesium from the physique, and other people with renal issues or kidney failure usually tend to take up an excessive amount of magnesium.
Docs normally advise folks with this threat to keep away from dietary supplements and drugs that comprise magnesium.
Threat components and therapy
The chance components for a magnesium overdose embrace:
The primary therapy for hypermagnesemia is to cease consuming magnesium in dietary supplements or drugs. Different therapies embrace:
If hypermagnesemia is extreme, therapy may contain intravenous calcium.
Medicines that comprise magnesium
Laxatives, specifically, usually comprise excessive ranges of magnesium, as a consequence of its pure laxative results. Though these drugs present greater than the really helpful quantity of magnesium, the physique normally doesn’t take up all of it.
For instance, 1 tablespoon of Milk of Magnesia accommodates 500 mg of elemental magnesium. A every day dose for adults is as much as 4 tablespoons per day, however the physique excretes a lot of the magnesium due to the medicine’s laxative results.
Some migraine drugs additionally comprise magnesium, as do some medication for indigestion and heartburn. Solely take a drugs that accommodates magnesium with medical supervision.
Why an individual wants magnesium – “magnesium supplement side effects”
The physique requires magnesium to remain wholesome. It’s important for over 300 processes, together with:
Some research recommend that magnesium could assist deal with or forestall:
Nevertheless, confirming the results of magnesium on these circumstances would require extra analysis.
Magnesium deficiency, or hypomagnesemia, is rather more frequent than hypermagnesemia, particularly in in any other case wholesome people. Some analysis signifies that 10–30 % of individuals have low ranges of magnesium.
The Workplace of Dietary Dietary supplements on the American Nationwide Institutes of Well being suggest the next every day allowances of magnesium:
Threat components for magnesium deficiency embrace:
Sources of magnesium
Individuals can meet their magnesium wants by the food plan and dietary dietary supplements:
Meals
Magnesium is current in lots of meals, together with:
There isn’t a have to restrict the quantity of magnesium within the food plan if the physique can excrete it by the kidneys.
Dietary supplements
Individuals can take dietary supplements to satisfy their magnesium necessities. In keeping with the Workplace of Dietary Dietary supplements, most individuals in the US don’t get sufficient magnesium from their diets alone. Nevertheless, by taking dietary supplements, most individuals get extra magnesium than obligatory.
To keep away from an overdose, don’t take greater than 350 mg of magnesium a day.
Topical magnesium sources
Some imagine that the physique can take up magnesium notably effectively by the pores and skin, in a course of referred to as transdermal absorption.
For that reason, an individual could attempt assembly their necessities by utilizing Epsom salts or topical magnesium oils. Nevertheless, little if any scientific analysis at the moment helps the concept.
Takeaway
Magnesium is crucial for well-being, however an excessive amount of could cause issues, together with digestive points, lethargy, and an irregular heartbeat. In uncommon instances, a magnesium overdose could be deadly.
Magnesium toxicity is uncommon in in any other case wholesome folks, and ranges usually tend to be low than excessive.
Individuals with circumstances affecting the kidneys are amongst these prone to absorbing an excessive amount of magnesium. The chance of loss of life is highest in older adults with renal failure.
An individual is unlikely to overdose from magnesium within the food plan, however dietary supplements and drugs can present an excessive amount of magnesium.
Early analysis of a magnesium overdose is essential. Therapy is normally efficient if a physician detects the overdose in an early stage.