Nearly 70% of U.S. Adults May Be Low in Magnesium and Standard Blood Tests Can Miss It

# What the new data found

Prevalence was higher in several clinical groups: 78.3% of adults with diabetes, 68.5% with hypertension, and 71.1% with chronic kidney disease. Women had slightly lower serum magnesium than men, though the investigators described the difference as small in clinical terms.

# Why standard blood tests can be misleading More than 99% of magnesium resides outside the bloodstream—inside bones, muscles, and soft tissues. A routine serum magnesium test measures only the small fraction circulating in blood, so a normal serum result can coexist with depleted tissue stores.

# Factors that have reduced magnesium intake

# Symptoms and health consequences tied to low magnesium Magnesium participates in hundreds of biochemical reactions. Reported symptoms associated with low magnesium include higher stress levels, trouble sleeping (related to lower GABA activity), delayed recovery or increased muscle soreness after activity, and low energy or brain fog because magnesium is involved in ATP production.

Magnesium also supports glucose metabolism and insulin signaling, which helps explain the higher deficiency rates among people with metabolic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.

# Actionable steps to identify and address low magnesium

• Ask your clinician for a serum magnesium test and an RBC (red blood cell) magnesium test. RBC magnesium assesses intracellular stores and offers a better indicator of longer-term status.
• Know the CLMD threshold cited by the researchers: serum magnesium below 2.06 mg/dL (0.85 mmol/L) indicates increased risk of chronic latent magnesium deficiency.
• Increase intake of magnesium-rich whole foods: dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, legumes, and whole grains.
• Discuss supplementation with your healthcare provider if diet alone may not be sufficient or if you have conditions or medications that deplete magnesium (for example, diuretics or proton pump inhibitors).

# Bottom line A substantial portion of U.S. adults may have low magnesium stores that standard serum tests miss. Testing that includes intracellular measures and attention to diet or targeted supplementation can offer a clearer picture and practical options for correction.