I come across clients with these symptoms more and more these days, here is some information (shortened from a paper I wrote in Nutritional Biochemistry ions ago).
Magnesium is an essential mineral involved in hundreds of biochemical reactions in the human body. Most magnesium is found in bone structures (60%), while the rest are in muscles, soft tissues, and fluids, including blood. It's involved in more than600 enzymatic reactions in the body that affect energy, protein formation, muscle movement and more. Every cell in the body contains it and needs it to function.
Because serum magnesium does not reflect intracellular magnesium, many cases of magnesium deficiency go undiagnosed.
Magnesium assists in the activation of vitamin D, which helps regulate calcium and phosphate levels which in turn influence bone growth and maintenance. All of the enzymes that metabolize vitamin D require magnesium.
Magnesium is used to regulate glucose, insulin, and the neurotransmitter dopamine; those with a deficiency often crave sugar, especially chocolate.
Magnesium also plays a role in migraine headaches. Deficiencies promote cortical spreading depression, alter processing and neurotransmitter release, and encourage hyper aggregation platelets, all significant elements of migraine development.
Twitches, tremors, and muscle cramps are all signs of magnesium deficiency. I have had clients describe this as “puppet legs” that keep them up at night. It’s worth consideration, a good night’s sleep is important. Check with your doctor and try adding a Magnesium supplement in the evening.
Magnesium deficiency is also linked to insulin resistance and increased risk for Type 2 Diabetes in adults. Magnesium helps regulate the electrical activity and insulin secretion in pancreatic beta-cells. Supplementation can be beneficial in reversing insulin resistance, Type 2 Diabetes, sugar and carbohydrate cravings