Magnesium: Importance, Causes of Deficiency, and Treatment

🔑Magnesium is required for approximately 300 enzymes, hormone release, and energy production.

🌽Magnesium can be obtained from various dietary sources, including almonds, black beans, broccoli, brown rice, bananas, cashews, flaxseed, spinach, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, soybeans, tofu, and whole grains.

⚠️Hypomagnesemia is a common medical problem, affecting approximately 1 out of every 10 hospitalized patients.

💊Certain medications, including antibiotics, antivirals, antiepileptic drugs, corticosteroids, diuretics, proton pump inhibitors, and H2 blockers, can cause hypomagnesemia.

⚡Severe hypomagnesemia can lead to neuromuscular symptoms, cardiac issues, altered mental status, and even seizures.

What are the possible causes of hypomagnesemia?

—Hypomagnesemia can be caused by decreased intake, decreased absorption, increased losses (such as excessive sweating or alcoholism), medications, and increased utilization (as seen in pregnancy).

What are the clinical findings of hypomagnesemia?

—Clinical findings of hypomagnesemia may include muscle fasciculations, weakness, tremors, hyperreflexia, dysphagia, cardiac arrhythmias, altered mental status, and ECG abnormalities (prolonged QT interval, T wave flattening).

How is hypomagnesemia treated?

—The treatment of hypomagnesemia depends on the severity. Mild cases may require oral magnesium supplementation and dietary adjustments. Severe cases may necessitate intravenous magnesium sulfate. Correcting magnesium levels may also be necessary to correct coexisting hypokalemia and hypocalcemia.

Can medications contribute to hypomagnesemia?

—Yes, certain medications, including antibiotics, antivirals, antiepileptic drugs, corticosteroids, diuretics, proton pump inhibitors, and H2 blockers, can cause hypomagnesemia.

Is hypomagnesemia a common medical problem?

—Yes, hypomagnesemia is a common medical problem, estimated to affect approximately 1 out of every 10 hospitalized patients.

00:00Magnesium is an important element required for many physiological processes.

02:26Hypomagnesemia refers to low magnesium levels and has various causes, including decreased intake, decreased absorption, increased losses, medications, and increased utilization.

04:33Hypomagnesemia is a common medical problem, affecting approximately 1 out of every 10 hospitalized patients.

06:58Hypomagnesemia can lead to neuromuscular symptoms, cardiac issues, altered mental status, and ECG abnormalities.

12:10Treatment of hypomagnesemia depends on the severity and may involve oral supplementation or intravenous magnesium sulfate.