There is a certain amount of controversy over magnesium. Much of the available information depends on the source.

Information sources produced by manufacturers and suppliers of mineral supplements always insist that magnesium deficiency is rampant, and that food sources in the US are depleted of this (and several other) minerals. Medical sources insist that magnesium deficiency is actually very rare, and that it is not generally something you need to worry about.

I suspect the truth lies somewhere in between. This is because it is the goal of suppliers to persuade you to buy their product, and what better way than to convince you that disaster is looming if you do not buy the supplement immediately? Doctors, on the other hand, deal most often with crises, so most of the research on mineral deficiency involves severe deficiencies. Studies have not often been done on minor imbalances or their effects. So it is probable that most mineral deficiencies are more common than stated by physicians and researchers, but less common than claimed by purveyors of supplements.

What is undisputed is that studies do show that magnesium supplements can improve blood sugar control for some people. Again, this probably has to do with previous levels in the individual. If a deficiency exists, it can help you. If it does not, then it most likely won’t.

It is also not a miracle cure. The supplements won’t repair a damaged pancreas, or remove insulin resistance entirely. Each one will just nudge it a bit, and improve control slightly if you happen to have the right body chemistry for that particular one to work.

Low magnesium levels are also associated with heart arrythmias, and clincal depression. If you have IBS, Crohn’s, Colitis, or other diseases that degrade the digestive system, you may be more prone to magnesium deficiency. Symptoms associated with deficiency can show up 5-15 years before pain is evident in these conditions.

Minerals can be overdosed on, so use caution in taking this supplement. Watch for headaches, constipation, diarrhea, skin irritation, or other effects which might indicate that you are getting too much of something, and give it two weeks or more before you add another supplement.