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Risks of Magnesium Supplements
Magnesium is essential to overall health 12. The mineral is involved in hundreds of reactions in the body, and adequate intake can help prevent chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, asthma, migraine headaches and depression. Magnesium can be found in most foods such as green vegetables, legumes and whole grains. Getting too much magnesium from food is rare, but most Americans do not get enough from their diets and often turn to supplements to fill in the gaps. However, too much supplemental magnesium can lead to serious health issues 1.
Abdominal Distress
Too much supplemental magnesium has been known to cause diarrhea, nausea, upset stomach and abdominal cramping. Magnesium carbonate, chloride, gluconate and oxide are most associated with these symptoms. Consuming large amounts of milk of magnesia, Epsom salts taken as laxatives or antacids can cause these symptoms.
Hypermagnesemia
Dangers of a High Dosage of Magnesium
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Taking large amounts of supplemental magnesium -- typically more than 5,000 milligrams per day -- can lead to a serious health issue called hypermagnesemia, in which the level of magnesium in the blood reaches a toxic level. It can lead to extremely low blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, cardiac arrest and death. The risk of developing hypermagnesemia increases for those with reduced kidney function as the kidneys help remove excess magnesium from the body.
Drug Interactions
Magnesium supplements can interact with certain medications, potentially interfering with the medications' effects or the ability to absorb or excrete magnesium from the body. Magnesium supplements have been known to interact with medications for diabetes, blood pressure, diuretics and hormone replacement therapy. In addition, magnesium supplements can interact with antibiotics such as tetracycline, doxycycline and Cipro (ciprofloxacin). Talk with your doctor before taking magnesium supplements if you're on medication.
- Magnesium supplements can interact with certain medications, potentially interfering with the medications' effects or the ability to absorb or excrete magnesium from the body.
- In addition, magnesium supplements can interact with antibiotics such as tetracycline, doxycycline and Cipro (ciprofloxacin).
Recommended Intakes
Can Magnesium Make You Sick?
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The Recommended Dietary Allowance for adults ages 19 to 30 is 310 milligrams of magnesium for women and 400 milligrams for men each day. After the age of 30, the daily requirements for magnesium increase to 320 milligrams for women and 420 milligrams for men. It's best to get magnesium from food as it is available in a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes. Men and women over the age of 19 should take no more than 350 milligrams of magnesium from supplements each day because of the risks associated with too much magnesium from supplements.
- The Recommended Dietary Allowance for adults ages 19 to 30 is 310 milligrams of magnesium for women and 400 milligrams for men each day.
- After the age of 30, the daily requirements for magnesium increase to 320 milligrams for women and 420 milligrams for men.
Related Articles
References
- National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Magnesium
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Magnesium
- Rodríguez-Morán M, Guerrero-Romero F. Oral Magnesium Supplementation Improves Insulin Sensitivity and Metabolic Control in Type 2 Diabetic Subjects: A randomized double-blind controlled trial. Diabetes Care.2003 Apr;26(4):1147-52. doi:10.2337/diacare.26.4.1147
- Office of Dietary Supplements/National Institutes of Health. Magnesium: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Bethesda, Maryland; updated July 11, 2019.
- Kass LS, Poeira F. The effect of acute vs chronic magnesium supplementation on exercise and recovery on resistance exercise, blood pressure and total peripheral resistance on normotensive adults. J Int Soc Sports Nut. 2015;12:19. doi:10.1186/s12970-015-0081-z
- Morais JBS, Severo JS, de Alencar GRR, et al. Effect of magnesium supplementation on insulin resistance in humans: A systematic review. Nutrition. 2017 Jun;38:54-60. doi:10.1016/j.nut.2017.01.009
- Rosanoff A, Weaver CM, Rude RK. Suboptimal magnesium status in the United States: are the health consequences underestimated? Nutr Rev. 2012 Mar;70(3):153-64. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2011.00465.x
- Zhang X, Li Y, Del Gobbo LC, et al. Effects of Magnesium Supplementation on Blood Pressure: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trials. Hypertension. 2016;68:324-33. doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.116.07664
Writer Bio
Jennifer Gill is a health educator, certified running coach, licensed sports nutritionist and writer. As the Founder of Sole Health and Wellness, she develops and implements individual, group and corporate running and nutrition programs. She has contributed to several local and national publications on nutrition, physical activity and weight management including a health information service from the National Institutes of Health.