title: Effects of oral magnesium therapy on exercise tolerance, exercise-induced chest pain, and quality of life in patients with coronary artery disease.
abstract: Previous studies have demonstrated that magnesium supplementation improves endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the impact on clinical outcomes, such as exercise-induced chest pain, exercise tolerance, and quality of life, has not been established. In a multicenter, multinational, prospective, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled trial, 187 patients with CAD (151 men, 36 women; mean +/- SD age 63 +/- 10 years, range 42 to 83) were randomized to receive either oral magnesium 15 mmol twice daily (Magnosolv-Granulat, total magnesium 365 mg provided as magnesium citrate) (n = 94) or placebo (n = 93) for 6 months. Symptom-limited exercise testing (Bruce protocol) and responses given on quality-of-life questionnaires were the outcomes measured. Magnesium therapy significantly increased intracellular magnesium levels ([Mg]i) in a substudy of 106 patients at 6 months compared with placebo (35.5 +/- 3.7 vs 32.6 +/- 2.9 mEq/L, p = 0.0151). Magnesium treatment significantly increased exercise duration time compared with placebo (8.7 +/- 2.1 vs 7.8 +/- 2.9 minutes, p = 0.0075), and lessened exercise-induced chest pain (8% vs 21%, p = 0.0237). Quality-of-life parameters significantly improved in the magnesium group. These findings suggest that oral magnesium supplementation in patients with CAD for 6 months results in a significant improvement in exercise tolerance, exercise-induced chest pain, and quality of life, suggesting a potential mechanism whereby magnesium could beneficially alter outcomes in patients with CAD.
authors.affiliation: The Heart Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel. shechtes@netvision.net.il
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shechter
authors.forename: C Noel
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Bairey Merz
authors.forename: Hermann Georg
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Stuehlinger
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Slany
authors.forename: Otmar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pachinger
authors.forename: Babeth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rabinowitz
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D008274:Magnesium