What causes a magnesium deficiency?

Low Dietary Intake
Studies have shown that higher rates of heart disease, diabetes, and bone deterioration are more common in populations that have limited amounts of magnesium in the food and water supply¹. Over the last century, the average magnesium intake has decreased significantly in the United States, whereas heart disease and diabetes have become more prevalent².

Ninety percent of Americans don't get enough magnesium in their diets³. Foods such as leafy greens and nuts are rich in magnesium, but need to be consumed in large amounts. Due to a fast paced lifestyle, many American diets are lacking in vital nutrients, including magnesium. Furthermore, popular weight loss plans, specifically diets that are low in carbohydrates, may result in a loss of important minerals such as magnesium.

A diet low in magnesium may result in a magnesium deficiency, which can lead to more serious conditions. Supplementation can offer the additional magnesium not provided by diet alone.

Prescription Drugs
If you suffer from high blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe a diuretic (water pill) to treat this condition. Diuretics work to lower blood pressure by ridding your body of excess water. However, critical electrolytes including magnesium are also flushed out during this process⁴. In fact, diuretic usage causes a 35% decline in magnesium levels⁵.

Cancer treatments often include the use of the prescription drug, cisplatin. This medication causes the kidneys to lose essential magnesium in the urine⁶.

Transplant patients receive cyclosporine as an ongoing prescription therapy. This vital drug helps to keep the body from rejecting the transplanted organ, but it also depletes large amounts of magnesium⁷.

Diuretics, cisplatin, and cyclosporine are beneficial for many patients, however these drugs may cause a magnesium deficiency, which may lead to complications.

Magnesium deficiencies can be managed with magnesium supplementation.

Health Conditions
Many clinical studies have shown that a magnesium deficiency is commonly seen in heart conditions and diabetes. Leg cramps and migraines, although not considered to be serious conditions, are common problems and are also signs of a magnesium deficiency in the body.

Women's health, including premenstrual syndrome (PMS), pregnancy, and osteoporosis, are additional areas in which magnesium can be beneficial. Magnesium supplementation may be used to restore the body's lost magnesium to help alleviate these problems, with little to no side effects.

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