Research paper
Investigation of the effect of short-term change in dietary magnesium intake in asthma.
Study answer
What this study found
Magnesium supplementation improved asthma symptoms, but it did not significantly improve objective lung function or airway reactivity. Symptom scores fell by a median difference of 3.8 (0.5-7.0) points per 7 days with magnesium versus placebo (p=0.02), while bronchodilator use trended lower by 6.0 (-1 to 10.5) doses per 7 days (p=0.051). By contrast, FEV1 did not change significantly (0.072 L, p=0.29), methacholine PD20 was not significantly different (p=0.09), and PEF variability was unchanged (p=0.79). No appreciable adverse effects were reported.
- Study & population
- Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study in 17 adult nonsmokers with stable asthma.
- Intervention
- Oral magnesium amino acid chelate tablets were given during the active arm.
- Key limitation
- Small sample size (17 participants) and short treatment periods of 3 weeks limit power to detect objective benefits and long-term effects.
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Open PDFOriginal abstract
Epidemiological evidence suggests that a low dietary intake of magnesium is associated with impaired lung function, bronchial hyperreactivity and wheezing. This study was designed to investigate whether short-term alterations of dietary magnesium int…