title: Magnesium in cystic fibrosis--Systematic review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The metabolism of sodium, potassium, and chloride and the acid-base balance are sometimes altered in cystic fibrosis. Textbooks and reviews only marginally address the homeostasis of magnesium in cystic fibrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a search of the Medical Subject Headings terms (cystic fibrosis OR mucoviscidosis) AND (magnesium OR hypomagnes[a]emia) in the US National Library of Medicine and Excerpta Medica databases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 25 reports dealing with magnesium and cystic fibrosis. The results of the review may be summarized as follows. First, hypomagnesemia affects more than half of the cystic fibrosis patients with advanced disease; second, magnesemia, which is normally age-independent, relevantly decreases with age in cystic fibrosis; third, aminoglycoside antimicrobials frequently induce both acute and chronic renal magnesium-wasting; fourth, sweat magnesium concentration was normal in cystic fibrosis patients; fifth, limited data suggest the existence of an impaired intestinal magnesium balance. Finally, stimulating observations suggest that magnesium supplements might achieve an improvement in respiratory muscle strength and mucolytic activity of both recombinant and endogenous deoxyribonuclease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The first comprehensive review of the literature confirms that, despite being one of the most prevalent minerals in the body, the importance of magnesium in cystic fibrosis is largely overlooked. In these patients, hypomagnesemia should be sought once a year. Furthermore, the potential of supplementation with this cation deserves more attention.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Department of Southern Switzerland.
authors.forename: Maristella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Emergency, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Gregorio P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Milani
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Department of Southern Switzerland.|University Children's Hospital of Berne, University of Berne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Giacomo D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Simonetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Emergency, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Emilio F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Fossali
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Department of Southern Switzerland.
authors.forename: Mario G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bianchetti
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Department of Southern Switzerland.|University Children's Hospital of Berne, University of Berne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sebastiano A G
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lava
mesh_terms: D000617:Aminoglycosides / Q000009:adverse effects; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D056947:Enzyme Replacement Therapy; D005100:Expectorants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism*; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D014883:Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000617:Aminoglycosides; D005100:Expectorants; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; D008274:Magnesium
keywords: aminoglycosides; cystic fibrosis; hypomagnesemia; magnesium; review