Magnesium

Abnormal levels of magnesium are most frequently seen in conditions or diseases that cause impaired or excessive excretion of magnesium by the kidneys or that cause impaired absorption in the intestines. Magnesium levels may be checked as part of an evaluation of the severity of kidney problems or of uncontrolled diabetes and may help in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal disorders.

Since a low magnesium level can, over time, cause persistently low calcium and potassium levels, it may be checked to help diagnose problems with calcium, potassium, phosphate and/or parathyroid hormone (involved with calcium regulation).

Magnesium levels may be measured frequently to monitor the response to oral or intravenous (IV) magnesium supplements and may be used, along with calcium and phosphate testing, to monitor calcium supplementation.

Magnesium testing may be requested as a follow-up to persistently low levels of calcium and potassium. It may also be requested if you have symptoms of an abnormally low magnesium level such as muscle weakness, twitching, cramping, confusion, cardiac arrhythmias, and seizures.

Although dietary deficiencies of magnesium are rare, your doctor may request a magnesium level to check for a deficiency as part of an evaluation of malabsorption, malnutrition, diarrhoea, or alcoholism. If you are taking certain drugs that can cause the kidneys to excrete magnesium, testing may be performed as well. If magnesium and/or calcium supplementation is necessary, then the magnesium blood level is likely to be checked at intervals to monitor the effectiveness of treatment.

If you have a kidney disorder or uncontrolled diabetes, your doctor may request magnesium levels to help monitor kidney function and to make sure that you are not excreting or retaining excessive amounts of magnesium.

Low levels of magnesium (hypomagnesaemia) in your blood may mean that you are:

• not getting enough magnesium in your diet;
• your intestines are not absorbing enough magnesium; or
• your kidneys are excreting too much magnesium.

Deficiencies may be due to:

• Low dietary intake (seen in the elderly, malnourished, and with alcoholism
• Gastrointestinal disorders (such as Crohn’s disease)
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Long-term diuretic use
• Prolonged diarrhoea
• Any critical illness in Intensive Care Unit patients

Increased levels of magnesium are rarely due to dietary sources but are usually the result of an excretion problem or excessive supplementation. Increased levels are seen in:

• Kidney failure
• Hyperparathyroidism (overactive parathyroid gland)
• Hypothyroidism
• Use of magnesium-containing antacids or laxatives

Since magnesium is an electrolyte, it may be requested with other electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, calcium, and phosphate to evaluate a patient’s electrolyte balance. If magnesium is low, it is not unusual for calcium and potassium also to be low.

Magnesium blood levels may be low normally in the second and third months of pregnancy.