What Does Magnesium Mean?
Magnesium is involved in over 300 enzyme reactions including muscle, nerve, and heart function. Mild deficiency is widespread and often underdiagnosed.
What Magnesium Measures
Serum magnesium measures circulating magnesium, but only about 1% of body magnesium is in blood — most is stored in bones and inside cells. So a normal serum value can still hide cellular deficiency. Symptoms include muscle cramps, twitches, fatigue, headaches, poor sleep, and irregular heartbeat.
Normal Ranges
Normal1.7–2.2 mg/dL
Low (hypomagnesemia)< 1.7 mg/dL
High (hypermagnesemia)> 2.2 mg/dL
Reference ranges may vary slightly by lab. Always use the range provided on your specific test report.
What Affects Your Magnesium Level
- Low intake (modern diets are often magnesium-poor)
- Excess alcohol
- Type 2 diabetes (magnesium is lost in glucose-laden urine)
- Proton pump inhibitors (long-term use)
- Diuretics
- GI losses (Crohn's, chronic diarrhea)
- Heavy sweating in athletes