Mental health conditions

Another side effect of magnesium deficiency is mental health problems. Apathy, for example, is characterized by mental numbness or a lack of emotion. Deficiency might worsen to the level of delirium and coma.

Low magnesium levels have also been linked to an increased risk of depression in observational studies. Magnesium deficiency has also been considered a cause of anxiety, however, there is no clear evidence supporting this theory. Magnesium supplements may help a subset of people with anxiety problems, according to one review, although the evidence is of poor quality. Before any conclusions can be drawn, higher-quality research is required. In short, it seems that in some people, a deficiency of magnesium might create nerve dysfunction and increase mental health problems.