Magnesium is important in more than 300 chemical reactions to keep the body working. These include growth and maintenance of bones, function of nerves, muscles and many other parts of the body. In the stomach magnesium helps to neutralise stomach acid and moves stools through the intestine.
Because it is involved in so many functions changes in the levels of magnesium can have a wide ranging effect on the body.
Symptoms of magnesium deficiency include:
Muscle cramps
Facial tics
Poor sleep
Chronic pain
Magnesium deficiency can be diagnosed with a blood test at your doctors. Some companies also provide private home testing* - such as this one (based in the UK).
Why might people with IBD be deficient in magnesium?
Transdermal products include magnesium flakes which you can put into a full bath or foot bath to soak yourself in. The magnesium penetrates into your body. Read more about magnesium baths.
Magnesium supplements are usually taken in tablet form.
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