Assessing Magnesium Deficiency

Could Magnesium Deficiency Be Affecting Your Health?

Do you experience—or have you been diagnosed with—any of the following?

Neurological & Mental Health

• ADD / ADHD

• Anxiety, irritability, nervousness

• Depression, apathy

• Confusion, difficulty concentrating, memory problems

• Insomnia or restless sleep

• Extreme sensitivity to noise or pain

• Autism

• Alzheimer’s disease

• Parkinson’s disease

Muscles, Nerves & Movement

• Chronic muscle tension

• Muscle spasms, cramps, tics, or tremors (hands, legs, feet, face)

• Teeth grinding

• Tension or migraine headaches

• Clumsiness or poor coordination

• Chronic fatigue syndrome / fibromyalgia

Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health

• Irregular or rapid heartbeat

• High blood pressure

• Blood clots

• Congestive heart failure

• Heart disease

• Insulin resistance, diabetes, hypoglycemia, metabolic syndrome

Digestive & Immune Health

• Allergies or asthma

• Autoimmune disease

• Candida or yeast infections

• Gut disorders (ulcers, Crohn’s disease, colitis)

• Chronic constipation

Hormonal, Bone & Other Conditions

• Severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

• Thyroid disorders

• Osteoporosis

• Arthritis (rheumatoid or osteoarthritis)

• Kidney stones

• Raynaud’s syndrome

• Dental caries

• Poor appetite

• Sugar or chocolate cravings

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The Magnesium Connection

Each of these conditions can have multiple contributing factors—and magnesium deficiency can exist without obvious symptoms. However, all of the conditions listed above have been associated with inadequate magnesium levels.

Magnesium is involved in:

• Nerve signaling

• Muscle relaxation

• Blood pressure regulation

• Blood sugar control

• Heart rhythm stability

• Bone integrity

• Energy production

• Stress resilience

A deficiency doesn’t always announce itself clearly—but its effects are widespread.

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Why Magnesium Deficiency Is Often Missed

Most magnesium in the body is found inside cells, not in the bloodstream. Yet the most common test ordered is a serum magnesium test, which measures only the small amount circulating in blood.

Here’s the problem:

• The body tightly regulates blood magnesium

• When intake is low, magnesium is pulled from bones and teeth to keep blood levels stable

• As a result, serum magnesium can appear normal even when tissues are severely deficient

Blood levels typically drop only when deficiency is advanced—often alongside osteoporosis or other serious conditions.

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Better Ways to Assess Magnesium Status

1. Serum Magnesium Test

This is usually covered by insurance and can identify severe deficiency. It’s a reasonable first step.

2. Red Blood Cell (RBC) Magnesium

This test looks inside red blood cells, where magnesium does more work than in serum. While commonly used by integrative practitioners, it has limitations and may not reflect levels in all tissues (such as heart muscle).

3. Intracellular Mineral Testing (EXA)

Well-known cardiologist and researcher Thomas E Levy, author of Magnesium: Reversing Disease, recommends a stepwise approach:

• Start with a serum magnesium test

• If normal but symptoms persist, consider EXA (X-ray Energy Analysis)

EXA testing is offered by Intracellular Diagnostics and involves:

• A simple, non-invasive cheek swab

• Measurement of intracellular magnesium, calcium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, and chloride

• Cost typically $250–$300

• Requires a licensed healthcare provider to order the test

This method provides insight into true cellular mineral status, where deficiencies actually affect function.

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The Bottom Line

Magnesium deficiency is common, under-recognized, and profoundly impactful—yet often missed by standard testing.

If you experience multiple symptoms from the list above, or have chronic health conditions that don’t fully respond to treatment, magnesium status is worth investigating.

Correcting a deficiency doesn’t just support one system—it helps restore balance across the body.