title: Relationship between Intracellular Magnesium Level, Lung Function, and Level of Asthma Control in Children with Chronic Bronchial Asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to determine the intracellular (red blood cell (RBC)) magnesium levels in children with chronic bronchial asthma and to determine the relationship between the magnesium level and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), type of asthma treatment, and level of asthma control.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Paediatric Clinic, Sarawak General Hospital. A total of 100 children, aged 6-12 years with chronic bronchial asthma, were recruited according to the study criteria. Venous blood samples were obtained to measure the intracellular (RBC) magnesium level using the GBC Avanta Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age was 8.57 (SD 1.18) years, and 63% of the participants were male. Mean duration of asthma was 62.2 (SD 32.3) months. A normal intracellular magnesium level was found in 95% of the participants, with a mean of 2.27 (SD 0.33) mmol/L. Two-thirds of the participants had a normal peak flow expiratory rate (> 80% of predicted value). About 85% were using both reliever and controller. Almost half of the participants (49%) had chronic asthma that was well-controlled. No significant relationship was found between magnesium level and age (r = -0.089, P = 0.379), gender (t = 0.64, P = 0.52), duration of asthma (r = -0.03, P = 0.74), PEFR (t = 0.41, P = 0.68), current level of asthma control (t = 0.02, P = 0.97), and current treatment (t = 0.414, P = 0.680).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no significant intracellular magnesium deficiency in children with chronic bronchial asthma. There was no significant relationship between therapeutic medications used for treatment of children with chronic asthma and intracellular magnesium levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Lot 77, Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce, 93150 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Htwe Htwe
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Sein
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine & Public Health, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Lot 77, Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce, 93150 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Cheah
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Whye Lian
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric, Sarawak General Hospital, Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce, 93586 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Kok
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Juan Loong
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Lot 77, Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce, 93150 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sl Ng
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Lot 77, Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce, 93150 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahardjai
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Lot 77, Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce, 93150 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mohamed Ameenudeen
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sultan
keywords: asthma; intracellular; magnesium