Magnesium deficiencies are very common in Western populations:
- 77% of women and 72% of men have magnesium intakes below recommended dietary levels
- 47% of adults have low circulating magnesium levels
Since only about 1% of the body’s magnesium is found in the blood, blood tests are a poor indicator of overall magnesium status. Therefore, deficiency is often assessed based on symptoms such as:
- Fatigue
- Numbness
- Muscle cramps and spasms
- Tingling sensations
- Anxiety
A magnesium deficiency also increases the risk of certain chronic conditions such as metabolic syndrome, angina, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.