Magnesium Facts & FAQs

Understanding Magnesium

Magnesium is an important mineral involved in more than 300 biochemical processes in the human body.

It plays an essential role in muscle and nerve function, maintaining proper cardiac rhythm, bone formation, energy metabolism, and protein synthesis. Magnesium is absorbed through the small intestine. Blood magnesium levels are regulated by the kidneys, which excrete excess magnesium through the urine.

Although magnesium supplementation is generally considered safe, consult your physician before beginning a magnesium regimen. Patients with compromised renal function should use special caution.

Hypomagnesemia (Low Magnesium Levels)

Your doctor may recommend magnesium supplements to help prevent or correct hypomagnesemia (low magnesium levels). Symptoms of hypomagnesemia may include muscle cramps, tingling, abnormal heart rhythms, and, if left uncorrected, seizures. Hypomagnesemia is also associated with low levels of other electrolytes, including calcium and potassium.

Hypomagnesemia may be caused by:

  • Renal wasting

  • Malabsorption disorders

  • Inadequate dietary intake

Renal Wasting

The kidneys attempt to correct for low magnesium intake by adjusting the amount of magnesium excreted in the urine. However, disease states or certain medications can impair the kidneys' ability to regulate magnesium properly.

Several medications are known to increase magnesium loss through the urine, including:

Oncology

  • Cisplatin

  • Carboplatin

  • Oxaliplatin

  • Erbitux™ (cetuximab)

Some Antibiotics

  • Gentamicin™

  • Amphotericin™

Transplantation (Solid Organ or Stem Cell/BMT)

  • Cyclosporin™

  • Prograf™ (Tacrolimus)

Cardiology

  • Lasix™

  • Bumex™

  • Edecrin™

  • Hydrochlorothiazide

Malabsorption Disorders

Patients with Crohn's disease or colitis may experience hypomagnesemia because magnesium is not adequately absorbed through the small intestine.

Inadequate Dietary Intake

A person's diet can affect magnesium status. Diets lacking leafy green vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and other magnesium-rich foods may contribute to magnesium deficiency.

Dietary surveys vary greatly regarding the severity of this condition among Americans. Low magnesium levels are also associated with alcoholism and poorly controlled diabetes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Click a question to read the answer.

"MG Plus Protein" is a magnesium supplement containing 133 mg of elemental magnesium. Although each tablet contains 26 mg of soy protein, "MG Plus Protein" is not intended as a protein supplement. The amount of protein is insignificant.

No. The amount of soy protein is small, depending on the patient's sensitivity to soy it may be tolerable.

"MG Plus Protein" tablets are shaped and glazed to make them easy to swallow. They are NOT enteric-coated. The tablets can be crushed for use in a feeding tube or added to food.

3 tablets. Depending on the medications you may be taking, your diet, your medical condition, etc. you may require more or less magnesium. Consult your doctor before a regimen of larger doses of magnesium.

Not likely. With healthy kidney function the body releases excess magnesium in the urine. Also, magnesium supplements are cathartic and large doses of oral magnesium usually cause diarrhea that does not allow for additional magnesium to be absorbed into the blood stream.

Common food sources of magnesium include: almonds, halibut, beans, leafy green vegetables, and whole grains (much of the magnesium is removed from the wheat used in the processing of white flour.)

As a magnesium supplement, take as directed by your physician.

Poorly controlled diabetes, high alcohol consumption, malabsorption conditions (Chron's, colitis), medications: loop/thiazide diuretics (water pills), some immunnosupressants (cyclosporin, tacrolimus), several cancer drugs (cisplatin, cetuximab.)

Common symptoms of hypomagnesemia (low magnesium levels) include leg cramps, abnormal heart rhythms, muscle contractions, and in severe cases seizures. Because of individual patient variation these symptoms will not be experienced by all patients. Blood tests are commonly used but not always accurate because a small amount of the body's magnesium is in the blood. The human body works hard to maintain magnesium blood levels. But it is possible for blood levels to test normal while body stores are low. A low blood magnesium level indicates the need for supplementation.

"MG Plus Protein" is an over-the-counter supplement, no prescription is required. All major wholesalers carry "MG Plus Protein"; any pharmacy that does not carry it can order it from their wholesaler. "MG Plus Protein" is also available directly from Miller Pharmacal at (800) 323-2935. (Business hours, Central Time US.)

Ask your physician before taking any medication or supplement.

Some. Other medications can lose some of their efficacy by interacting with magnesium supplements or magnesium containing antacids (special note to transplant recipients taking tacrolimus.) Always read and follow the prescribing information for all medications before taking any magnesium supplement.

NO! The shape and glazing of "MG Plus Protein" tablets make them very easy to swallow, even for pediatric patients or cancer patients with mucositis.

This site is for informational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Products mentioned are trademarks of their respective owners.

© 2026 Miller Pharmacal Group, Inc.