Worsening of Underlying Conditions: If you have an underlying health condition that is managed with magnesium supplementation, stopping it suddenly can worsen the symptoms or lead to a flare-up of the condition. It is crucial to consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your magnesium intake.
Loss of bone density can be of particular concern. In younger people, magnesium deficiency may prevent bone growth. It is vital to get enough magnesium during childhood when the bones are still developing. In older people, magnesium deficiency may increase the risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures.
When taken in very large amounts (greater than 350 mg daily), magnesium is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. Large doses might cause too much magnesium to build up in the body, causing serious side effects including an irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, confusion, slowed breathing, coma, and death.
Using magnesium citrate regularly may cause the body to become dependent on it, making it difficult for a person to pass stools without using laxatives. Anyone with chronic constipation should talk to their doctor to find long-term solutions for their symptoms.
The benefits of magnesium supplementation in healthy individuals aren't clear, but Dr. Nassar says that taking a magnesium supplement every day likely isn't unsafe for most people. Just be sure you're not taking too much magnesium. The maximum dietary allowance for most adults is around 400 mg or less.
Never begin taking, suddenly discontinue, or change the dosage of any medication without your doctor's recommendation.
Early signs of excessive magnesium intake can include low blood pressure, facial flushing, depression, urine retention, and fatigue. Eventually, if untreated, these symptoms can worsen and include muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeat, and even, in very rare cases, cardiac arrest.
Too much magnesium from foods isn't a concern for healthy adults. However, the same can't be said for supplements. High doses of magnesium from supplements or medications can cause nausea, abdominal cramping and diarrhea.
People with diabetes, intestinal disease, heart disease or kidney disease should not take magnesium before speaking with their health care provider. Overdose. Signs of a magnesium overdose can include nausea, diarrhea, low blood pressure, muscle weakness, and fatigue. At very high doses, magnesium can be fatal.
Magnesium also helps balance other things like sodium, calcium and potassium. You can get your daily dose of magnesium from a well-balanced diet. If you need a supplemental dose, 200 mg/day is generally considered a safe and adequate amount.
“Most magnesium will stay in the body for anywhere from 12 to 24 hours. So it's not something you can just take once, see results, and then never take again,” explains registered dietitian Amanda Li, R.D.
Now, the average intake has fallen to about 200 – 275mg. In other words, we are currently getting less than half the daily amount of magnesium than we used to. Magnesium deficiency can have a spiraling effect. If we don't get enough magnesium from our food, we are more vulnerable to high levels of stress and anxiety.
In addition to anxiety, low magnesium levels have been linked with: Higher levels of stress. Depression. Insomnia or sleep disturbances.
However toxic levels may occur with long-term use of high-dosage supplements. People with kidney disease have a higher risk of toxicity because their kidneys are not working properly and cannot flush out extra magnesium. Signs of toxicity include: Nausea, vomiting.
One study. View Source of older adults with insomnia found that magnesium supplementation at a dose of 500 milligrams daily for eight weeks helped them fall asleep fast, stay asleep longer, reduced nighttime awakenings, and increased their levels of naturally circulating melatonin.
Magnesium is important for many processes in the body, including regulating muscle and nerve function, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure and making protein, bone, and DNA.
“Most people do not need a magnesium supplement to meet the recommended daily amount. Following a well-balanced meal plan that you enjoy should be enough,” she said. Spinach and other green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, beans, plain yogurt, milk and whole grains are magnesium-rich foods.
This mineral helps in maintaining function in our nerves and muscles and supports a healthy immune system. It also plays a role in keeping our heartbeat steady and bones strong. Current recommended daily requirements of magnesium for adults 51 and older is 420 milligrams for men and 320 milligrams for women.
The time of day doesn't matter so much—it's the consistency of taking magnesium daily that matters most. While some recommend taking magnesium supplements right before bed (to calm your mind and nervous system, setting the stage for sleep), do what works best for you to ensure that it becomes a daily healthy habit.
The good news is that some studies (study links, a and b) have identified how magnesium may ease certain symptoms of stress and anxiety. Here are the facts: Magnesium may help to control the chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) in the brain, resulting in a calming effect on the body.
Side effects of magnesium
Taking magnesium supplements can bring a range of side effects, such as drowsiness or fatigue during the day, muscle weakness, nausea, vomiting, skin flushing or diarrhea, Gurubhagavatula said. Some risks are even more serious.