Contributed by -Healthians Team
What is a serum magnesium test?
Magnesium is a type of mineral that helps in energy production, muscle contraction, nerve function, and maintenance of strong bones. It comes into the body through the consumption of magnesium-rich foods such as green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, and beans. It is absorbed by the small intestine and colon and stored in the bones, cells and tissues.
The serum magnesium test helps evaluate the magnesium levels in your blood and determine the abnormal level of magnesium. Too high or too low levels of magnesium in your blood can be harmful to your body. Too high magnesium in your blood indicates hypermagnesemia, whereas too little magnesium in your blood indicates magnesium deficiency or hypomagnesemia.
Who should get tested?
The doctor may order a serum magnesium test if the person has these following symptoms:
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Low blood pressure
- Fatigue
- Confusion
- Muscle cramps
- Changes in heart rate
- Seizures
- Numbness and tingling
Why is the serum magnesium test needed?
Your doctor may order this test if they suspect your magnesium level is too high or too low. Magnesium plays a vital role in regulating the calcium and potassium levels in your body. Your doctor may check your magnesium level if these levels are consistently low.
This test may also be necessary if your doctor thinks you might have a malabsorption or malnutrition problem. Your doctor may advise you to take this test regularly if you’re under certain medications or have diabetes, kidney problems, chronic diarrhoea or alcoholism. Since magnesium is a type of electrolyte, the serum magnesium test may be ordered along with other electrolyte tests such as calcium, phosphorus, chloride, and sodium test to monitor a person’s electrolyte balance.
What does the serum magnesium test results mean?
For people,17 years or older, the normal range of serum magnesium is 1.3-2.7 milligrams per deciliter. The test results depend on your age, gender and overall health. This result can vary according to different laboratories because of the different methods of testing.
High magnesium in your blood indicates some specific medical conditions that include:
- End-stage renal disease (ESRD)
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Hypothyroidism
- Dehydration
- Diabetic acidosis
- Addison disease
High levels of magnesium in your blood may occur due to the consumption of magnesium supplements unnecessarily.
Low levels of magnesium may occur due to some health conditions such as:
- Low dietary intake
- Digestive disorders such as Crohn’s disease
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Hypoparathyroidism
- Long-term diuretic use
- Prolonged diarrhoea
- Post-surgery
- Severe burns
- Pre-eclampsia
How is the test done?
The doctor needs your blood sample to perform a serum magnesium test. The lab technician will insert a needle into a vein in your arm or hand to draw a small sample of blood. After the sample is drawn, they’ll send it to a laboratory for testing. There is no special preparation needed before this test. However, if it is being performed along with other tests, then you may have to fast for several hours before the sample collection. You should inform your doctor about any pre-existing medical condition or medicines you might be on as it can influence your test results.
