While you might think that taking these supplements is beneficial for your health, there’s something to be aware of
Taking vitamins and supplements is always encouraged, as is making sure you have a balanced diet. Yet, a w:arning has been issued to people who take magnesium, thinking they’re doing the right thing.
Each 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”, yet 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 a lot of 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.
Kidney problems
If you have kidney problems, you should avoid magnesium. People with kidney issues are at a higher risk of side effects and experiencing toxicity.
As per 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 lead to serious side effects including an irregular heartbeat, confusion, low blood pressure, slowed breathing, coma, and even death.
If you don’t have a magnesium deficiency
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 cause conditions such as , heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis. This is a narrowing of the arteries because of a cholesterol plaque
Side effects can include nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting if too much is taken.
Experts do not suggest 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.
As a primary care doctor at Houston Methodist, Dr. Noorhan Nassar w:arned: “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.