Magnesium Carbonate & Diarrhea

Magnesium carbonate is a form of the mineral magnesium, a natural element. It is important for a variety of human bodily functions, including bone development and muscle tone; additionally, it can also be taken orally in supplement form to relieve heart burn and indigestion. However, when too much is ingested through food or supplemental forms, magnesium carbonate can cause diarrhea and abdominal cramping.

Function

• Magnesium carbonate works in the body in concert with calcium to manage cell function within muscles. Calcium promotes stiffness and rigidity, while magnesium carbonate promotes tissue relaxation and smoothness. When the body has the appropriate ratio of calcium to magnesium carbonate (2:1), proper muscle rhythms occur, especially in the digestive tract. However, when too much magnesium carbonate is ingested through food and supplements, the muscles in the digestive tract become too smooth and relaxed, causing food to pass quickly through and be eliminated as diarrhea.

Considerations

• Magnesium carbonate is found in a variety of common foods and is found in especially high concentration in the vegan and vegetarian diets. Diets that are rich in these foods without complimentary amounts of food or supplements containing calcium can lead to diarrhea. Such foods include spinach, broccoli, turnips, green beans and a variety of seeds like flax and sunflower seeds.

Prevention/Solution

• To reduce or prevent diarrhea caused by magnesium carbonate, an individual can reduce the intake of magnesium-rich foods or increase the amount of calcium rich foods they ingest. Some great examples of calcium rich foods include milk, cheeses, yogurt, navy beans and oranges. Another possible solution is to take a calcium supplement; the National Institutes of Health sets the daily allowance for calcium at 1,000 mg. A final solution for reducing or preventing diarrhea caused by magnesium carbonate is to add a daily fiber supplement to slow the passage of stools through the intestines.

Warning

• It is important not to completely remove magnesium carbonate from the daily diet because it contributes to a lot of key physical functions. The dangers magnesium carbonate deficiency include nausea, weakness, fatigue, weight loss, muscle contractions, muscle spasms and abnormal heart rhythms. Low magnesium carbonate levels can also reduce the amount of potassium in the blood, which can cause additional health problems.

Potential

• While magnesium carbonate can cause diarrhea when too much is ingested, it is a valuable mineral that should not be avoided because of its potential to cause loose stools. Magnesium carbonate supplements (in vitamin form) are often recommended by alternative remedy specialists as a chemical-free treatment for insomnia, constipation and muscle soreness. It is also often taken on a regular basis by body builders and other professional athletes to prevent muscle cramps after workouts. Before adding or removing magnesium carbonate into your diet, consult with your health care professional for further advice.