Effect of oral magnesium supplementation on measures of airway resistance and subjective assessment of asthma control and quality of life in men and women with mild to moderate asthma: a randomized placebo controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Epidemiological data shows low dietary magnesium(Mg) may be related to incidence and progression of asthma.


OBJECTIVE
To determine if long term(6.5 month) treatment with oral Mg would improve asthma control and increase serum measures of Mg status in men and women with mild-to-moderate asthma.


METHODS
55 males and females aged 21 to 55 years with mild to moderate asthma according to the 2002 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute(NHLBI) and Asthma Education and Prevention Program(NAEPP) guidelines and who used only beta-agonists or inhaled corticosteroids(ICS) as asthma medications were enrolled.


METHODS
Subjects were randomly assigned to consume 340 mg(170 mg twice a day) of Mg or a placebo for 6.5 months.


METHODS
Multiple measures of Mg status including serum, erythrocyte, urine, dietary, ionized and IV Mg were measured.


OBJECTIVE
markers of asthma control were: methacholine challenge test(MCCT) and pulmonary function test(PFT) results. Subjective validated questionnaires on asthma quality of life(AQLQ) and control(ACQ) were completed by participants. Markers of inflammation, including c-reactive protein(CRP) and exhaled nitric oxide(eNO) were determined.


RESULTS
The concentration of methacholine required to cause a 20% drop in forced expiratory volume in in minute(FEV(1)) increased significantly from baseline to month 6 within the Mg group. Peak expiratory flow rate(PEFR) showed a 5.8% predicted improvement over time(P = 0.03) in those consuming the Mg. There was significant improvement in AQLQ mean score units(P < 0.01) and in overall ACQ score only in the Mg group(P = 0.05) after 6.5 months of supplementation. Despite these improvements, there were no significant changes in any of the markers of Mg status.


CONCLUSIONS
Adults who received oral Mg supplements showed improvement in objective measures of bronchial reactivity to methacholine and PEFR and in subjective measures of asthma control and quality of life.
Kazaks
Alexandra G
AG
Department of Nutrition and Exercise Science, Bastyr University, Kenmore, Washington 98028-4966, USA. akazaks@bastyr.edu
Uriu-Adams
Janet Y
JY
Albertson
Timothy E
TE
Shenoy
Sonia F
SF
Stern
Judith S
JS
D000328:Adult; D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D001944:Breath Tests; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000503:physiopathology; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D008274:Magnesium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010919:Placebos; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
D010919:Placebos; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D008274:Magnesium