Doctor Zukhra Pavlova has warned Russians against taking magnesium supplements without professional medical guidance, following a sharp rise in consumer demand.
The specialist stressed that people should not begin taking the mineral based solely on feelings of fatigue, anxiety, or advice found on the internet. While magnesium is widely regarded as a remedy for exhaustion, she cautioned that it is not a universal cure and that unguided use can cause harmful side effects.
Speaking to broadcaster Radio KP, Pavlova explained that magnesium participates in numerous vital processes, meaning a deficiency can disrupt the functioning of the entire body. She noted that the mineral plays an essential role in regulating stress responses, making it popular among modern consumers who face constant psychological and physical tension day and night.
Health risks and side effects
Pavlova, a Doctor of Medical Sciences and practising endocrinologist, emphasised that a supplement suitable for one patient can prove dangerous for another. Because individuals have differing underlying illnesses and baseline health indicators, she warned that self medicating without clinical testing carries genuine risks.
Fatigue and anxiety are common symptoms that can arise from diverse medical issues, including anaemia, thyroid conditions, or sleep disruption, rather than a lack of minerals. Ingesting inappropriate doses or forms of magnesium can trigger gastrointestinal distress, such as nausea, abdominal cramps, and diarrhoea, while individuals with compromised kidney function face greater risks if mineral levels build up in the bloodstream.
Magnesium is an essential dietary mineral and electrolyte required by the human body for hundreds of enzymatic reactions, including muscle contraction, nerve transmission, and blood pressure regulation. In pharmacies and retail shops, biologically active dietary supplements are sold in varied chemical compounds, such as magnesium citrate, magnesium glycinate, and magnesium oxide, each having distinct rates of absorption and biological availability.
Dosage and treatment duration
To prevent complications, Pavlova stated that a qualified physician must determine whether a patient genuinely requires supplementation before choosing the correct form, dosage, and duration of treatment. When magnesium is formally prescribed to correct a diagnosed deficit, she added, patients typically need to take the product continuously for at least two months to restore adequate levels in the body.
Endocrinologists specialise in the diagnosis and management of conditions involving hormones, metabolic health, and nutritional balance. The specialist's advice follows broader efforts by medical experts to curb unsupervised health trends, with Russian consumers previously cautioned against drinking therapeutic mineral water without medical consultation because high mineral concentrations can similarly strain internal organs.
