There are many factors that can contribute to joint pain, but research has found that magnesium deficiency is one of them. 

Joint pain can stop you in your tracks, making you avoid your favorite activities and instead wanting to curl up in bed all day.  There are many factors that can contribute to joint pain, but research has found that magnesium deficiency is one of them.

Magnesium is an important mineral that plays a role in many body processes, including maintaining normal muscle and nerve function and helping with the absorption of calcium and other important nutrients.  In your diet, magnesium is found in leafy greens and nuts, but most Americans don’t get enough magnesium from their diets.  Recent research has found that magnesium deficiency, known as hypomagnesemia, may play a role in certain chronic joint pain conditions.

Low magnesium can cause problems with the functioning of your skeletal muscles, including twitching, sore muscles, back and neck pain and headaches.  According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center, patients who suffer from chronic joint pain conditions such as osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis often have abnormally low levels of magnesium.   Magnesium deficiency can come from low dietary intake or malabsorption issues.  The NIH recommended intake of magnesium for women is between 310 and 320 milligrams per day, and for men is 400 to 420 milligrams per day.

Many of the available clinical studies linking magnesium deficiency with joint pain have been performed on laboratory animals.   However, some newer studies on humans have also linked magnesium deficiency to certain joint pain conditions. A clinical case study, published in January 2009 in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that a 50-year old woman with severe joint pain also suffered from chronic magnesium deficiency.  A clinical review, published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistryalso demonstrated a link between magnesium deficiency and osteoporosis.

If you suffer from joint pain, consider taking a magnesium supplement.  You may find relief and the ability to once again enjoy the activities you love.