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Magnesium Test

Magnesium Test

February 2, 2026
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Do I need a Magnesium test?

Struggling with muscle cramps, poor sleep, fatigue, or feeling on edge? Could low magnesium be contributing to these frustrating symptoms?

Magnesium supports over 300 processes in your body, from muscle relaxation to energy production. When levels drop, you may experience cramps, restless nights, low energy, or heightened stress.

Testing your magnesium gives you a vital snapshot of this essential mineral, helping pinpoint whether deficiency is fueling your discomfort. It's the first step toward a personalized plan that addresses your symptoms and restores balance.

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Get tested with Superpower

If you’ve been postponing blood testing for years or feel frustrated by doctor appointments and limited lab panels, you are not alone. Standard healthcare is often reactive, focusing on testing only after symptoms appear or leaving patients in the dark.

Superpower flips that approach. We give you full insight into your body with over 100 biomarkers, personalized action plans, long-term tracking, and answers to your questions, so you can stay ahead of any health issues.

With physician-reviewed results, CLIA-certified labs, and the option for at-home blood draws, Superpower is designed for people who want clarity, convenience, and real accountability - all in one place.

Key benefits of Magnesium testing

  • Reveals your magnesium status, essential for muscle, nerve, and heart function.
  • Spots low levels that may explain fatigue, cramps, or irregular heartbeat.
  • Flags high levels in kidney disease or excessive supplement use.
  • Guides treatment for muscle spasms, migraines, or heart rhythm problems.
  • Tracks response to magnesium replacement or medication adjustments over time.
  • Clarifies unexplained weakness, tremors, or numbness linked to electrolyte imbalance.
  • Best interpreted with calcium, potassium, and your symptoms for full context.

What is Magnesium?

Magnesium is an essential mineral and the fourth most abundant positively charged ion (cation) in the human body. It cannot be made internally and must come from food or supplements. Most magnesium resides inside cells and bone, with only about 1% circulating in blood.

The spark plug of cellular energy

Magnesium acts as a cofactor for over 300 enzymes, meaning these proteins need magnesium to function. It plays a central role in energy production, helping convert food into usable fuel (ATP) inside mitochondria.

Master regulator of nerves and muscles

This mineral stabilizes electrical activity across cell membranes, controlling how nerves fire and muscles contract. It counterbalances calcium, promoting relaxation after contraction in both skeletal and heart muscle.

Builder of DNA and protein

Magnesium is required for synthesizing DNA, RNA, and proteins. It also supports bone structure, blood sugar control, and blood pressure regulation. Measuring blood magnesium reflects recent intake and availability, though it may not fully capture total body stores.

Why is Magnesium important?

Magnesium is a master regulator that powers more than 300 enzyme systems throughout your body, from energy production in every cell to the electrical stability of your heart, muscles, and nerves. It governs how your cells make ATP, how your muscles contract and relax, how your bones mineralize, and how your nervous system stays calm and coordinated. Without adequate magnesium, these fundamental processes begin to falter.

Your cells can't make energy without it

Normal serum magnesium typically ranges from 1.7 to 2.2 mg/dL, with optimal levels sitting comfortably in the middle to upper portion of that range. When magnesium drops below normal, muscles become irritable and prone to cramping, especially in the calves and feet. Fatigue deepens because mitochondria struggle to generate ATP. The heart may develop arrhythmias, blood pressure can rise, and anxiety or insomnia often emerge as the nervous system loses its biochemical brake.

Too much magnesium slows everything down

Elevated magnesium is uncommon but serious, usually reflecting kidney failure or excessive supplementation. High levels suppress nerve and muscle function, causing weakness, low blood pressure, slowed reflexes, and in severe cases, respiratory depression or cardiac arrest.

It connects metabolism, structure, and electrical balance

Magnesium links bone health, glucose metabolism, cardiovascular tone, and neurologic calm into a single integrated system. Chronic deficiency raises long-term risks for osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and mood disorders, underscoring its role as a foundational mineral for resilience and vitality.

What do my Magnesium results mean?

Low magnesium levels

Low values usually reflect inadequate intake, poor absorption from the gut, or excessive loss through the kidneys. Magnesium is essential for energy production, nerve signaling, muscle relaxation, and blood sugar control. When levels drop, you may experience muscle cramps, fatigue, irregular heartbeats, or heightened stress responses. Chronic low magnesium is linked to insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and bone fragility. Certain medications like diuretics and proton pump inhibitors can accelerate magnesium depletion.

Optimal magnesium levels

Being in range suggests adequate cellular energy metabolism, stable neuromuscular function, and balanced electrolyte status. Magnesium supports hundreds of enzymatic reactions, including those that regulate heart rhythm, blood pressure, and glucose handling. Optimal levels tend to sit in the mid to upper portion of the reference range, reflecting robust tissue stores and efficient cellular uptake.

High magnesium levels

High values usually reflect impaired kidney function, as the kidneys are responsible for excreting excess magnesium. Elevated levels can also occur with overuse of magnesium-containing supplements, laxatives, or antacids. Very high magnesium can slow nerve and muscle activity, leading to weakness, low blood pressure, or irregular heart rhythms.

Factors that influence magnesium results

Serum magnesium represents only a small fraction of total body stores, so normal blood levels don't always rule out tissue deficiency. Results can be affected by kidney function, hydration status, and certain chronic illnesses.

Method: FDA-cleared clinical laboratory assay performed in CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited laboratories. Used to aid clinician-directed evaluation and monitoring. Not a stand-alone diagnosis.

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Similar biomarker tests from Superpower

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Frequently Asked Questions

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How it works
What should I expect during a blood draw?
  • A trained phlebotomist will guide you through the process.
  • A tourniquet is placed on your arm, the site is cleaned, and a small needle is used to collect blood into one or more tubes.
  • Results are usually ready in about a week.
  • Most people feel only a quick pinch.
  • The needle is removed, gentle pressure is applied, and a bandage is placed.
How do I prepare for a blood draw?
  • Drink plenty of water beforehand — hydration makes veins easier to find.
  • Wear loose sleeves so your arm is easy to access.
  • Follow any fasting instructions you’ve been given.
  • Let us know if you’re on medications, have fainted before, or have needle anxiety.
What should I do after my blood draw?
  • Press gently on the site for a few minutes.
  • Keep the bandage on for 4-6 hours.
  • Skip heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for the rest of the day.
  • Drink extra water to rehydrate.
  • Monitor the site for redness, swelling, or pain.
How do I book a blood draw with Superpower?

Your membership includes:

  • An annual full body test and report across 100+ biomarkers
  • A personalized action plan to optimize your biomarkers and reach your health goals
  • A dashboard to centralize your health data and track changes across a lifetime
  • Access to a health concierge for questions on your plan and help scheduling
  • Plus a marketplace of curated health products and services cheaper than amazon

Many concierge clinics charge $10k – $100k for their services, we’ve built technology to make the world’s best healthcare as accessible as possible via an all-in-one membership.

Where can I take my blood test?

Superpower is currently available in the following US states:

  • Alabama
  • Arizona
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • District of Columbia
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Kansas
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
Our testing
Does Superpower replace my primary care provider?

Superpower specializes in prevention-based testing and treatments and is not intended for emergency or immediate health issues.

While you will have a Superpower care team, your annual membership is designed to complement a primary care doctor if you have one, not replace them.

We are happy to help you share any test results with an outside provider to ensure you receive well-rounded medical care.

How fast are blood test results and how do I read them?

Your annual lab test panel takes about a week to process. We will text you as soon as they become available in your dashboard. Other types of tests may have different testing windows. The Superpower concierge is your own health assistant who helps answer your questions on your results, ensure smooth scheduling, coordination of any office-based tests, specialist referrals as needed, and navigating you to interface with your care team.

Does Superpower accept health insurance?

Superpower membership and products are all eligible for HSA/FSA funding.

We see Superpower like a gym membership for those committed to prevention and performance. Superpower is a bridge between wellness and healthcare. Health insurance traditionally focuses on reactive care whereas, at Superpower, we believe it’s never too early to start looking out for your long-term health.

What if I want more than 1 blood test per year?

Absolutely — you're not limited to just one. Your membership includes one comprehensive 100+ biomarker blood test each year, but if you'd like to track your progress more closely, you can add extra tests at any time. Each additional full-panel test costs $179. You can order as many as you'd like throughout the year.

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Vinay Hiremath, Founder of Loom

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Jordi Hayes, Founder of Capital.xyz

Frequently Asked Questions about Magnesium Test

What is magnesium, and why is it called the “spark plug” for cellular energy?

Magnesium is an essential mineral and the fourth most abundant cation in the body. It acts as a cofactor for 300+ enzymes, helping mitochondria convert food into ATP (cellular energy). It also stabilizes electrical activity in nerves and muscles, supports DNA/RNA and protein synthesis, and contributes to bone structure, blood pressure regulation, and blood sugar control. Because most magnesium is inside cells and bone, blood levels reflect only a small fraction.

What are the key benefits of getting a magnesium blood test?

Magnesium testing reveals your current magnesium status, which is crucial for muscle, nerve, and heart function. It can identify low magnesium that may explain fatigue, cramps, twitching, tremors, numbness, or irregular heartbeat. It can also flag high magnesium from kidney disease or excessive supplement/antacid/laxative use. Testing helps guide treatment for muscle spasms, migraines, or rhythm problems and tracks response to magnesium replacement or medication changes over time.

What is a normal (optimal) serum magnesium range, and what level is considered best?

Typical serum magnesium falls in a narrow range of about 1.7 to 2.2 mg/dL. Being in range generally suggests adequate magnesium availability to support energy production, stable nerve and muscle function, and balanced electrolytes. Many clinicians consider mid-to-high normal values preferable for long-term resilience because magnesium is involved in hundreds of enzyme reactions affecting cardiovascular stability, metabolic health, and bone density. Interpretation should also consider symptoms and other electrolytes.

What does low magnesium mean, and what symptoms can it cause?

Low magnesium usually reflects inadequate intake, poor intestinal absorption, or excessive loss through the kidneys. Because magnesium calms nerve firing and supports muscle relaxation, deficiency can cause muscle cramps, twitching, fatigue, weakness, irritability, and sleep issues. It may also contribute to heart rhythm instability and can impair insulin function, affecting blood sugar control. Low magnesium often occurs alongside low potassium and calcium, so broader electrolyte testing is often important.

What are common causes of magnesium deficiency, including medications and gut problems?

Low magnesium can result from diets low in leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and whole grains, as well as chronic stress or heavy alcohol use. Gastrointestinal issues that reduce absorption - such as celiac disease or chronic diarrhea - can lower levels over time. Certain medications may contribute, including some diuretics and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Because serum magnesium reflects only about 1% of total body stores, symptoms may appear even when blood values look “normal.”

What does high magnesium mean, and why is it dangerous?

High magnesium is uncommon but potentially serious. It most often indicates impaired kidney function, since healthy kidneys excrete excess magnesium efficiently. Elevated levels can also occur from excessive supplementation or use of magnesium-containing antacids or laxatives. Too much magnesium depresses nerve and muscle activity, which may cause weakness, low blood pressure, slowed reflexes, nausea, and abnormal heart rhythms. In severe cases, it can lead to respiratory depression or cardiac arrest.

How does magnesium affect muscles, nerves, and heart rhythm?

Magnesium stabilizes electrical activity across cell membranes, helping regulate how nerves fire and how muscles contract. It counterbalances calcium, promoting relaxation after contraction in skeletal and heart muscle. When magnesium is low, the nervous system becomes more excitable - leading to cramps, twitching, and potential rhythm disturbances. When magnesium is high, nerve and muscle activity can slow too much, causing weakness, low blood pressure, and potentially dangerous heart or breathing complications.

How is magnesium connected to calcium, potassium, and vitamin D in lab interpretation?

Magnesium interlocks with calcium and potassium to maintain stable neuromuscular function and heart rhythm, and it also works with vitamin D to support bone density. Low magnesium frequently accompanies low potassium and calcium because these electrolytes influence one another’s balance. For that reason, magnesium results are best interpreted alongside calcium and potassium levels and your symptoms. This combined view helps clarify whether cramps, weakness, tremors, or arrhythmias are driven by an electrolyte imbalance.

Why can my magnesium blood test be normal even if I have symptoms of deficiency?

Only about 1% of total body magnesium circulates in the blood; most is stored inside cells and bone. Serum magnesium therefore reflects recent intake and short-term availability and may not fully capture tissue depletion. Chronic losses from diarrhea, certain diuretics, or long-term PPI use can gradually reduce body stores before serum levels drop. If symptoms like cramps, fatigue, or palpitations persist, clinicians often evaluate related electrolytes and overall clinical context.

How can magnesium testing guide treatment and monitoring for cramps, migraines, or medication adjustments?

Magnesium testing can help determine whether symptoms such as muscle spasms, migraines, tremors, weakness, or irregular heartbeat may be linked to low or high magnesium. If low, it supports decisions about dietary changes or magnesium replacement and allows follow-up testing to track response over time. If high, it can prompt evaluation for kidney dysfunction or excess magnesium intake from supplements, antacids, or laxatives and guide safer medication adjustments to normalize levels and reduce risk.

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