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Magnesium supplements improved lung function in asthma patients

Conference
ERS 2021
While there is no specific diet recommendation for asthma, there are some foods and nutrients that may help support lung function and reduce asthma symptoms. The presented study showed that oral magnesium supplements may benefit patients with mild-to-moderate asthma.

Bronchial asthma affects up to 18% of the population worldwide. In addition to asthma medication, diet and nutritional supplements may play a role in controlling the disease. Magnesium is a mineral that could be relevant to asthma because of its potential effects on the bronchial muscles. When given intravenously, it leads to bronchodilation in acute severe asthma. For that reason, the current study was conducted to evaluate the effect of oral magnesium supplements in the control of asthma symptoms and lung function parameters [1].

The authors conducted a prospective, randomised, single-blinded, comparative, parallel group study. Inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years, bronchial asthma diagnosis according to the GINA guidelines, and having asthma under control with medication. Both inpatients and outpatients were eligible. Patients were randomly assigned to receive oral magnesium supplements (400 mg once daily for 4 months) in addition to their regular asthma medication, or their regular asthma medication alone. Both groups were followed at an interval of 4 weeks for 4 months. Evaluated endpoints were Asthma Control Test (ACT) scores, peak expiratory flow rate, lung function by spirometry, and absolute eosinophil count. Moreover, serum magnesium levels were measured every month, and patients were contacted by phone on a weekly basis to evaluate potential magnesium side effects.

A total of 58 patients were included in the study; mean age was 40 years. An equal number of female participants were included in the magnesium group, while slightly more male (51.7%) participants were included in the regular treatment group.

The median change in serum magnesium levels was 0.2 mg/dL after the fourth study visit (P=0.001). No change in serum magnesium was noticed in the regular treatment group. Furthermore, patients in the magnesium group had significantly better ACT scores and FEV1 levels during the fourth study visit. Overall, the study showed improved lung function and asthma control on oral magnesium supplements compared with conventional therapy in patients with mild to moderate asthma.

  1. Rowhit Y, et al. A randomised controlled study on effect of oral magnesium supplements in control of symptoms of bronchial asthma and lung function parameters. Abstract 887. ERS 2021, 5–8 September.

 

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