Magnesium

Useful for

Useful with prolonged diarrhea or a bowel disease, heavy alcohol use, malnutrition, long-term use of water pills (diuretics) or stomach acid inhibitors (proton pump inhibitors), reduced kidney function and a persistently low potassium or calcium. With tiredness or muscle cramps without these risk factors, the measurement is of little use, because a deficiency is rarely the cause and the blood value does not show a small deficiency well. A vegetarian diet is also not expected to cause a deficiency, because magnesium is abundant in plant-based products.

How common is it?

How often a low magnesium occurs in healthy Dutch people is not known. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum), a deficiency does not occur easily, because magnesium is found in many foods, such as whole grain products, vegetables, nuts and dairy products. A low magnesium is mainly seen with bowel or kidney problems, a lot of alcohol and long-term use of water pills or stomach acid inhibitors.

The Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum), the NVKC and Het Acute Boekje (Netherlands Internists Association)

Drawbacks and risks

• A slightly abnormal result is easily seen as the explanation for vague symptoms such as tiredness or cramps; this can lead to unnecessary supplement use while another cause is missed.
• According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum), more than 250 milligrams of magnesium per day from supplements can cause diarrhea.