You may have heard of a mineral by the name of magnesium. It’s an important mineral with many important functions within the body. What you may not have heard of is the RBC magnesium test to determine whether your magnesium levels are too low or too high.
RBC magnesium is an important marker with many different uses. In this article, we will take a closer look at the RBC magnesium test, what it means, and steps you can take to support a healthy magnesium level in the body.
Magnesium is one of the minerals that are important for the optimal functioning of your body. Magnesium has multiple functions with some of these functions including:
Your body cannot function at its optimum and maintain these functions if magnesium levels are low.
On the other end of the scale, your magnesium levels mustn't be too high as this will also result in your body not functioning at its optimum.
RBC magnesium is a blood test and stands for red blood cell magnesium. This is the magnesium within your red blood cells.
Your bones, tissues, plasma, and red blood cells store your magnesium. Your bones store 60-70% of this magnesium; the remaining amount is in your soft tissue, with your blood storing just under 1% of the remaining amount.
A serum magnesium test measures the magnesium from the 1% in blood. However, this test has its drawbacks. The one drawback is that it cannot measure how much magnesium your bones and tissue are absorbing. This is where the RBC magnesium test comes in.
The serum test is not sensitive enough to determine a deficiency in magnesium. When the magnesium levels in the serum become low, magnesium is taken from the magnesium stored in the red blood cells. This way, serum magnesium levels can be within the normal range even if there is a deficiency. The RBC magnesium test can measure how much magnesium your bones and tissue are absorbing and can indicate when you are starting to become deficient in magnesium.
The RBC magnesium test can therefore help to identify individuals deficient in magnesium more efficiently than a serum magnesium test.
This is taken in a lab. The ideal range for magnesium in the RBC magnesium test is between 4.2 and 6.8mg/dL.
Since your body stores magnesium, there is a possibility that your magnesium levels can become high. This can be dangerous to your health and can cause complications such as heart, liver, and kidney conditions as well as mood disturbances.
Causes for high magnesium are:
If your RBC magnesium test shows that your magnesium levels are high, there are a range of methods you can try to lower your magnesium levels, these include conventional and natural methods.
There are multiple causes for a low magnesium level with the common causes being an unbalanced diet, regular use of laxatives, lack of sleep, and conditions such as diabetes. Some symptoms of low magnesium are:
Having a balanced diet helps to ensure that you receive your magnesium naturally. Some food sources of magnesium are:
If you are unable to meet your magnesium requirements through food sources, supplementation can help you to meet your requirements.
Magnesium supplementation is available in many different delivery methods. The most common type of magnesium supplementation are tablets, capsules, effervescent tablets (tablets that dissolve in water), and a powder version. There are also topical lotions available and bath salts that help increase magnesium levels by absorption through the skin.
There are also many different forms of magnesium available with the most common being:
With so many different forms of magnesium to choose from it can seem overwhelming. Whilst all these forms contain magnesium, the different forms have slightly different actions due to the ingredient they are bound to.
This is the most common form of magnesium supplement that is available on the market. This form is easily absorbed in the gut compared to other forms that are not as easily absorbed. It can replenish magnesium levels and is sometimes used to relieve constipation as this form has a natural laxative effect.
This form is a white powdery substance and is typically in a capsule or powder. Your gut poorly absorbs this form of magnesium, so it is not commonly used to replenish low levels. Rather, it is used to relieve short-term symptoms such as heartburn and migraines.
Your body, specifically your muscle and blood cells, naturally produces this form of magnesium. It can be manufactured and is used to fortify foods. This form is easily absorbed and is gentle on the gut. It is beneficial for those individuals who require a high level of magnesium through supplementation or for individuals whose bodies do not tolerate the other forms of magnesium. There is also research that shows that this form may be useful to help relieve anxiety and stress symptoms, but more research is needed.
Your body easily absorbs this form of magnesium, and this form can cross your blood-brain barrier and increase magnesium levels in your brain. Due to this, it can help to relieve symptoms such as memory loss, sleep disturbances, and depression. However, more research is needed.
Your body absorbs magnesium malate well, and it has less of a laxative effect. Because of this, it is a common form that is used to replenish levels of magnesium.
Magnesium has many important functions, and one of these functions is regulating your blood sugar levels. Taurine is an amino acid that also plays a role in blood sugar levels. This form uses both magnesium and taurine and may help to manage blood sugar levels as well as regulate blood pressure.
Magnesium glycinate has good absorption profile and is well toleratec for those with sensitive guts.
Whilst taking magnesium supplements will help to increase your magnesium levels, it does take time for supplements to help replenish levels of magnesium.
The amount of time it will take to replenish levels all depends on how low your magnesium levels were. In cases of very low levels, it can take up to six months to replenish the levels of magnesium. This makes it important to take your supplements as guided by your healthcare provider.
There are a range of foods that can help contribute to magnesium levels. Likewise, there are also foods that reduce the absorption of magnesium. In excess, this action can lead to low levels of magnesium.
Some of the food components that can inhibit the absorption of magnesium are:
Whilst these foods can inhibit the absorption of magnesium, you don’t need to completely cut them from your diet. However, having these foods in moderation can help to limit the risks of these foods causing low levels of magnesium.
Adrenal Fatigue (AF) is a group of symptoms that individuals experience due to chronic stress. Your adrenal glands are two glands that sit above the kidneys and help to regulate your stress response. The glands do this by releasing hormones to help your body adapt to the stress it experiences.
This system regulates short-term stress, and if your body experiences chronic stress, the hormones that the adrenal glands release can become depleted. This results in a group of symptoms that includes weight, sleep, and mood disturbances as well as pain and muscle tightness.
The NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) System supports your adrenal glands. The NEM system consists of six circuits: the hormone, bioenergetics, detoxification, inflammation, neuroaffect, and cardionomic circuit. Three organs or parts of the body support each circuit and work together to manage stress.
During Adrenal Fatigue, imbalances in these circuits can occur and can result in a variety of symptoms depending on where the imbalance occurs. Some of these imbalances include a reduction in digestion and absorption of nutrients as well as the nutrients being used inefficiently.
This can result in low levels of magnesium and the added effects of low magnesium. The RBC magnesium test can then determine these levels.
Magnesium can also assist individuals currently experiencing Adrenal Fatigue with some symptoms such as sleep disturbance, pain, and muscle-related pain.
Before supplementing with magnesium it’s important to note that during Adrenal Fatigue the body becomes sensitive to external products that include supplements. The FDA does not regulate supplements and the quality and safety of these supplements is not a guarantee.
If you are currently experiencing Adrenal Fatigue and think you may have low levels of magnesium or would like to relieve your symptoms through a magnesium supplement, chat with your healthcare provider before trying new supplements. They can help guide you in a plan to relieve your current symptoms and achieve balance within the circuits.
Magnesium is an important mineral that your body requires and is in a variety of food sources. A sensitive marker for determining whether or not your magnesium levels are adequate is the RBC magnesium test.
This test is more sensitive than the serum test and can help identify your magnesium levels. If your magnesium levels are low, there are a range of remedies that can help replenish your levels, such as eating high-magnesium foods and taking supplements.
If you are currently experiencing a low magnesium level and would like guidance or would like to learn more about testing your magnesium levels, you can call our team at +1 (626) 571-1234 or click here.
Whilst a serum magnesium test may be done by using a home testing kit,the RBC magnesium test is different. This test is taken at a lab and the results are then analyzed by the lab. The time it takes for the results to be analyzed depends on the lab.
