What can very low or very high levels of magnesium lead to?

Very low or very high levels of magnesium can significantly impact the body's systems, particularly the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Magnesium plays a crucial role in various physiological functions, including neuromuscular transmission and the maintenance of normal heart rhythm.

When magnesium levels drop too low (hypomagnesemia), it can lead to issues such as cardiac arrhythmias, where the heart beats irregularly or too swiftly, which can be dangerous and even life-threatening. Similarly, elevated magnesium levels (hypermagnesemia) can also disrupt heart function and lead to respiratory failure due to neuromuscular impairment. This means the muscles required for breathing may become weak or unable to function properly.

Other options, while they touch on important physiological aspects, do not directly correlate with the extremes of magnesium levels in the same immediate and serious manner. For example, increased kidney function is generally not a direct consequence of abnormal magnesium levels; instead, magnesium homeostasis is primarily managed by the kidneys. Elevated blood glucose levels can be influenced by various factors but are not specifically linked to fluctuations in magnesium. Similarly, while immune response can be affected by numerous minerals and conditions, it is not the primary concern associated with abnormal magnesium levels. The critical importance lies in the relationship between magnesium and the