What Happens to Your Body When You Take Too Much Magnesium

What Happens to Your Body When You Take Too Much Magnesium

  • An overdose of magnesium can result from too much dietary supplements, but not from food.
  • For supplements, take the recommended dose at or below the upper limit of 350 mg.
  • To prevent toxicity, choose food with magnesium such as nuts, dairy products and leafy vegetables.

Magnesium is an important mineral that your body needs. It facilitates many biochemical functions in the body, including protein synthesis, blood sugar control and blood pressure regulation. It is also necessary for energy generation and the synthesis of DNA and RNA, is important for the structural development of bones and plays a role in the transport of calcium and potassium for muscle, heart and nerve function. To mention unnecessarily that your body is dependent on magnesium in many ways.

However, some people may not get enough magnesium from their diet, which is why doctors may recommend an addition, in particular to address certain problems such as constipation, sleep problems and muscle cramps, says Laura Purdy, MDA family doctor certified by the board. But as useful as an addition, is there something like too much magnesium? We consulted the latest research and talked to medical experts about what happens to your body when you take too much magnesium, including the warning signs you should pay attention to.

Potential risks you should know about

The overdosed magnesium – also known as hypermagneemia – is highly unlikely. The Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies for the supplementary Magnesium 350 mg; This is the maximum daily admission, which probably does not cause a disadvantageous effects on health. It is not harmful to eat too much magnesium from food. However, high magnesium doses via dietary supplements such as magnesium oxide, citrate or chloride can lead to problems. “This is generally quite rare, but if you take too much magnesium, you can experience diarrhea, nausea and possibly some cramps,” says Purdy.

If you take an addition, stick to the limit of 350 mg of complementary magnesium per day, unless your health service provider expressly suggests a higher dose, says says says Katy Dubinsky, Pharm.d..

The frequent side effects of excessive magnesium intake are:

  • Diarrhea
  • Trimming
  • Stomach
  • Low blood pressure
  • Muscle weakness
  • Cardiac arrhythmia
  • Vomit
  • Facial flushing
  • Maintaining the urine (an inability to empty the entire urine out of her bladder)
  • depression
  • Lethargy and muscle weakness
  • Cardiac arrest

How much can you take?

The current recommended nutritional allowance (RDA), which is sufficient on average daily intake in order to meet the nutrient requirement of almost all healthy people, is for magnesium from all sources for adults:

  • Age 19 to 30: 400 mg (men) and 310 mg (women)
  • From 31: 420 mg (men) and 320 mg (women)

The recommended amount of magnesium can be higher than the UL, since the UL is only available for nutritional supplements. The recommended amount includes magnesium from all sources, including supplementary and medication. Magnesium is of course available in many foods such as almonds, spinach, kidney beans and tofu. If you don’t get enough of it, some doctors may recommend an addition. “It is important to contact your doctor to specifically discuss your current diet and a real dose for your body,” says Purdy. “The recommended dose will be enough depending on the addition and brand. It is important to follow the label instructions and advise your doctor to consider and take into account your current diet. It is also recommended to take over the supplement with food if possible.

Is a magnesium supplement safe for everyone?

While hypermagingaemia is rare, it is something you should consider, especially if you have a chronic disease. For example, if you have an impairment of kidney function or kidney failure, you may have a higher risk of recognizing symptoms of a magnesium overdose.

The intake of very high magnesium doses, as in some antacids and laxatives, 5,000 mg was associated with cases of magnesium toxicity. That does not mean that you should avoid them. Instead, make sure that you follow the instructions on the label when taking these medication.

Unfortunately, magnesium preparations may not mix well with other medication, including:

  • Bisphosphonates (used to treat osteoporosis) that can reduce the absorption of magnesium in the body.
  • Certain antibiotics should be taken at least two hours before or four to six hours after taking a magnesium supplement.
  • Diuretics can increase magnesium loss in urine and cause a defect.

What you should look for in a magnesium supplement

In order to prevent magnesium overdose, Dubinsky suggests concentrating on food sources of magnesium. “Consumers should concentrate on involving foods in magnesium such as leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, legumes and dairy products in their diet to treat deficiency,” she says.

However, if the purchase of a supplement from a pharmaceutical professional is required, follow the following tips from Dubinsky:

  • Buy high -quality nutritional supplements that have been tested for purity and effectiveness. Make sure your product has been checked independently.
  • Choose magnesium forms with high bioavailability such as magnesium citrate.
  • Do not take more than 350 mg a day, the recommended daily upper limit, unless a medical specialist expressly recommends it.
  • Ask a medical specialist whether other medication or nutritional supplements that you take could interact with a magnesium supplement.

Our expert

Magnesium is a necessary nutrient for a variety of body functions, including protein synthesis, muscle and nerve control, blood pressure and blood sugar and more. If you are poor Magnesium, your health service provider may recommend an addition. The UL consists of 350 milligrams of supplementary magnesium per day, and rare cases of overdose symptoms (such as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, muscle weakness, irregular heartbeat and low blood pressure) have occurred when a person consumes a very large dose of magnesium in one day. If you have started taking a magnesium supplement and take the symptoms with the above -mentioned magnesium toxicity, call your health service provider. This is particularly important if you have a kidney disorder.

Frequently asked questions


  • What are the signs of too much magnesium?

    Diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, low blood pressure, muscle weakness, irregular heartbeat, vomiting and facial flushing are some of the symptoms of magnesium toxicity.


  • How much does magnesium cost per day?

    According to the tolerable upper limit, which was determined by the nutrition guidelines for Americans, no one should consume more than 350 milligrams of magnesium in supplementary form per day for over 9 years.


  • Should you take magnesium every day?

    If your provider recommends taking a magnesium supplement, you may be instructed to take magnesium every day. Remember that “not everyone needs a magnesium supplement or even the same amount,” says Purdy. If you don’t believe that you get enough magnesium from your diet, speak to your doctor, who can advise you on the addition.


  • How can you get rid of excess magnesium in your body?

    Since magnesium is released by the urine, taking a diuretic help to rinse excess magnesium in your body. Experts also say that they should stop taking a magnesium supplement if they suspect that they have taken too much. Then talk to a health service provider about how you can go forward to take care of your magnesium needs.