Anyone taking magnesium issued warning if they fall under either of these two groups
Topics: Health, NHS, Social Media
Jen Thomas
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock
Topics: Health, NHS, Social Media
Taking vitamins and supplements is always encouraged, as is ensuring you have a balanced diet. However, a warning has been issued to those who take magnesium, thinking they're doing the right thing.
Every week, there's a different trend on social media, encouraging people to take particular supplements and adding things to their diet. One week it's potassium, the next it's "fibremaxxing", but experts say people need to be mindful of their own personal circumstances before taking anything.
Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body, but many people are lacking in it, and some people swear it improves their mood and sleep.
Medical professionals have urged people to think twice about following trends and taking supplements because they've seen them go viral. If you fall into either of these two groups, you should be very careful before taking any supplements, including magnesium.
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If you suffer from kidney problems, magnesium should be avoided. Those with kidney issues are at a higher risk of side effects and experiencing toxicity.
According to WebMD, if you have issues with your kidneys, they may well have trouble clearing excess magnesium from the body. Taking extra magnesium can cause magnesium to build up to dangerous levels. Don't take magnesium if you have kidney problems.
Magnesium toxicity can cause serious side effects including an irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, confusion, slowed breathing, coma, and even death.
It is estimated that between 9 to 17% of adults and 15% to 20% of adolescents have a magnesium deficiency. Being deficient in magnesium can lead to developing conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and atherosclerosis. This is a narrowing of the arteries due to a cholesterol plaque
Side effects can include diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting if too much is taken.
Experts do not recommend magnesium supplements if you do not have a magnesium deficiency, as there is no evidence that taking extra will provide health improvements to those who aren't deficient.
Dr. Noorhan Nassar is a primary care doctor at Houston Methodist, and he warned: "The actual data supporting benefits of supplementation in otherwise healthy adults isn't complete — results are mixed and the design of these studies isn't always ideal."
He added: "There are studies showing that magnesium can have a laxative effect."
Always check with your doctor or a medical professional before taking them.
The recommended daily intake of magnesium for an adult is 300mg a day for men and 270mg a day for women, and the NHS warns that taking more than 400mg a day can be harmful.