Hi,
I've only posted on here a few times since I'm still in the planning process, but next month I hope to join all you TTC girls! This site has been such a great resource for me so I wanted to pass on a warning from my experience...
I've been on the girl diet and supps for 6 weeks and these last couple weeks I started having diarrhea, fatigue, and shortness of breath. I've never had intestinal issues before and it had been getting progressively worse, so I went to the doctor and to make a long story short, it was caused by too much magnesium. The doctor said the maximum amount I should have been taking is 350 mg (I was taking the recommended 600 mg). She said taking too much can be extremely dangerous. I told her I know other people taking the same amount that are fine, she said some people can tolerate magnesium better than others. Anyways, I just wanted to pass along the information in case anyone else starts developing these symptoms, they'll know to cut back on the magnesium.
I posted some info I found online below in case anyone is interested.
Good luck to everyone TTC!!!
Magnesium Toxicity
Adverse effects have not been identified from magnesium
occurring naturally in food. However, adverse effects from excess magnesium
have been observed with intakes of various magnesium salts (i.e., supplemental
magnesium). The initial symptom of excess magnesium supplementation is
diarrhea—a well-known side effect of magnesium that is used therapeutically
as a laxative. Individuals with impaired kidney function are at higher
risk for adverse effects of magnesium supplementation, and symptoms
of magnesium toxicity have occurred in people with impaired kidney function
taking moderate doses of magnesium-containing laxatives or antacids. Elevated
serum levels of magnesium (hypermagnesemia) may result in a fall in blood
pressure (hypotension). Some of the later effects of magnesium toxicity,
such as lethargy, confusion, disturbances in normal cardiac rhythm, and
deterioration of kidney function, are related to severe hypotension. As
hypermagnesemia progresses, muscle weakness and difficulty breathing may
occur. Severe hypermagnesemia may result in cardiac arrest (3, 4). The Food and Nutrition Board
(FNB) of the Institute of Medicine set the tolerable upper intake level (UL)
for magnesium at 350 mg/day. This UL represents the highest level of daily supplemental
magnesium intake likely to pose no risk of diarrhea or gastrointestinal
disturbance in almost all individuals. The FNB cautions that individuals
with renal impairment are at higher risk for adverse effects from excess
supplemental magnesium intake. However, the FNB also notes that there
are some conditions that may warrant higher doses of magnesium under
medical supervision (4).
| Tolerable Upper
Intake Level (UL) for Supplemental Magnesium |
| Age Group |
UL (mg/day) |
| Infants 0-12 months |
Not possible to establish* |
| Children 1-3 years |
65 |
| Children 4-8 years |
110 |
| Children 9-13 years |
350 |
| Adolescents 14-18 years |
350 |
| Adults 19 years and older |
350 |
*Source of intake should be from food and formula only.