How Do You Treat Low Magnesium Levels? A Comprehensive Guide

November 19, 2025 •

3 min read

According to dietary surveys, nearly half of the US population consumes less than the recommended amount of magnesium. A low magnesium level, medically known as hypomagnesemia, can lead to a variety of symptoms and health issues if left unaddressed. Understanding how to treat low magnesium levels is crucial for restoring your body's essential mineral balance and preventing more serious complications.

Quick Summary

This guide outlines the different approaches to treating hypomagnesemia, including dietary adjustments, oral supplements, and medical intervention for severe cases, addressing the underlying causes and explaining various supplement options for effective management.

Key Points

Start with Diet: For mild deficiencies, increase your intake of magnesium-rich foods like leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and whole grains before resorting to supplements.
Choose the Right Supplement: Oral magnesium supplements like glycinate or citrate are well-absorbed for moderate deficiency, while magnesium oxide has poor absorption.
Seek Medical Attention for Severe Symptoms: Severe symptoms such as seizures or irregular heartbeat require immediate medical attention and intravenous (IV) magnesium administration.
Address Underlying Causes: Identify and treat the root cause of the deficiency, such as diuretic use or chronic gastrointestinal issues, with medical guidance.
Beware of Drug Interactions: Consult a doctor about potential interactions, as magnesium supplements can affect the absorption of certain medications, such as some antibiotics and bisphosphonates.
Monitor Kidney Function: Those with impaired renal function need careful monitoring when taking magnesium supplements to prevent hypermagnesemia (excess magnesium).
Consider Epsom Salt Baths (Anecdotal): While not a primary treatment, some people find Epsom salt baths relaxing, believing magnesium can be absorbed through the skin, though evidence is limited.

Understanding Low Magnesium Levels (Hypomagnesemia)

Magnesium is an essential mineral involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body, affecting nerve and muscle function, blood pressure regulation, and bone health. When serum magnesium levels drop below 0.75 mmol/L (1.7 mg/dL), it is considered a deficiency. While mild cases may be asymptomatic, a significant deficiency can produce noticeable symptoms, ranging from muscle cramps and fatigue to more serious cardiac irregularities.

Causes of Low Magnesium

Several factors can contribute to low magnesium levels, and treatment often depends on addressing the root cause. These include insufficient dietary intake, gastrointestinal issues causing malabsorption, kidney problems increasing excretion, certain medications (like diuretics and PPIs), and chronic alcoholism.

Dietary Strategies to Correct Magnesium Deficiency

For mild hypomagnesemia, increasing magnesium-rich foods is the initial step. Dietary sources allow the body to regulate absorption safely.

Key dietary sources of magnesium

These include dark leafy greens (spinach, Swiss chard), nuts and seeds (almonds, cashews, pumpkin, chia), legumes (beans, edamame), whole grains (brown rice, oatmeal), fish (salmon, halibut), tofu, avocados, bananas, and dark chocolate.

Oral and Intravenous Magnesium Replacement

When diet isn't sufficient or the deficiency is more severe, supplementation is needed.

Oral supplements for mild deficiency

Asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients typically use oral supplements. Options include:

Magnesium Glycinate: High bioavailability and absorption; gentle on the stomach; often used for relaxation.
Magnesium Citrate: Good absorption; mild laxative effect; also used for constipation.
Magnesium Oxide: High elemental magnesium percentage but lower absorption; used for constipation or indigestion.

Intravenous (IV) magnesium for severe cases

Severe, symptomatic hypomagnesemia (with seizures, arrhythmias, or tetany) requires immediate IV magnesium in a hospital. IV administration quickly raises serum levels to treat acute symptoms, followed by oral maintenance.

Comparison of Common Magnesium Supplements


Feature	Magnesium Glycinate	Magnesium Citrate	Magnesium Oxide
Absorption Rate	Very High	Good	Low
Effect on Digestion	Gentle on the stomach	Can cause diarrhea	Strong laxative effect
Primary Use	Relaxation, sleep, anxiety	General deficiency, constipation	Constipation, antacid
Bioavailability	High	Good	Poor
Elemental Magnesium	Lower elemental amount per dose	Moderate elemental amount per dose	High elemental amount per dose

Medical Management of Underlying Causes

Treating the deficiency involves managing the underlying cause. This can include adjusting medications like diuretics or PPIs, monitoring kidney function in patients with kidney disease, and treating associated deficiencies in calcium and potassium which often coexist with low magnesium.

Conclusion: A Multi-Pronged Approach

Treating low magnesium levels requires a personalized strategy based on severity and cause. Mild cases benefit from a magnesium-rich diet, potentially with oral supplements. Severe deficiencies demand immediate IV magnesium. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting supplementation, especially with existing conditions or other medications. A balanced approach combining diet, supplements, and medical guidance ensures effective management for optimal health.

Epsom Salt Baths: A Natural Alternative

Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) baths are sometimes used, based on the idea of transdermal absorption. While research is limited, some find them relaxing. However, this is not a primary treatment for significant hypomagnesemia and should not replace diet or prescribed supplements.

Finding a Balanced Diet

Meeting daily magnesium needs through diet is possible with a variety of nutrient-dense foods like leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and legumes. However, factors like soil depletion and food processing can reduce mineral content, making supplementation a helpful option for many. A balanced diet remains the best foundation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common symptoms of low magnesium, or hypomagnesemia, include muscle weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, and in more severe cases, muscle cramps, numbness, tingling, and an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia).

The time it takes to correct low magnesium levels depends on the severity of the deficiency and the treatment method. Mild deficiencies corrected with diet and oral supplements can take several weeks, while severe cases treated with IV magnesium in a hospital can be resolved more quickly, followed by long-term oral maintenance.

Yes, it is possible to meet your daily magnesium requirements through a balanced diet rich in foods like leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. However, many people consume less than the recommended amount, making diet alone insufficient for those with a confirmed deficiency.

The 'best' form depends on individual needs. Magnesium glycinate is often recommended for its high bioavailability and gentle effect on the stomach. Magnesium citrate is well-absorbed but can have a laxative effect, while magnesium oxide has poor absorption but a high elemental content.

It is highly unlikely to get too much magnesium from food alone in healthy individuals, as the kidneys excrete the excess. However, taking very high doses of supplements or laxatives can cause magnesium toxicity (hypermagnesemia), which can lead to symptoms like nausea, hypotension, and lethargy. This risk is higher in people with impaired kidney function.

You should consult your primary care provider if you experience symptoms of low magnesium. They can order blood tests and help identify the underlying cause. In severe cases, or for managing complex health issues, they may refer you to a specialist.

Yes, chronic stress can deplete magnesium stores in the body. When stressed, the body uses more magnesium, and higher cortisol levels can increase urinary excretion of the mineral, creating a cycle of depletion.