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.
- 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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Table of Contents: ERS 2021
Featured articles
Letter from the Editor
COVID-19 Research: Looking Back and Moving Forward
Higher inflammation markers in COVID-19 patients with a first negative PCR test
Persistent fatigue following COVID-19
Risk of COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality in young and middle-aged adults
Respiratory Viral Infections: Insights from Recent Studies
Rhinovirus bronchiolitis increased risk of recurrent wheezing and asthma
COPD: Evidence Update
Livestock farming affected the airway microbiome of COPD patients
Reduction of COPD severe acute exacerbations by candidate vaccine
Paediatrics and Vaccinology
Better lung function in children with a healthy diet
Need for validated severity score in the assessment of bronchiolitis
Increased impact of air pollution on lung function in preterm infants
Pearls in Asthma Research
Biomarkers do not discriminate severe from severe uncontrolled asthma
Increased blood neutrophiles in patients with obesity and asthma
Blood inflammatory phenotypes associated with clinical symptoms of asthma
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