Asthma is a common lung condition in the industrialized world, one that impacts the lives of adults and children alike. Asthma threatens one's essential ability to breathe, to take in oxygen, our most basic and urgent survival need. We cannot live without air for more than a few minutes. Choke off our air supply, and we quickly become frightened and desperate, to the point of panic. It is easy to understand why asthma is one of the most taxing, debilitating health problems a human being can face, both physically and mentally.
Magnesium is a cofactor in over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body. It is necessary for the transmission of nerve impulses, muscular activity, temperature regulation, detoxification reactions, and for the formation of healthy bones and teeth. It is involved in energy production and the synthesis of DNA and RNA. Various studies report low magnesium levels in asthma patients. Consuming adequate magnesium may reduce the risk of developing asthma and is frequently useful as part of an overall treatment program.
A recent study sought to determine whether long term treatment with oral magnesium could improve asthma control and quality of life in adults with asthma. The study included 55 men and women aged 21 to 55 years with mild to moderate asthma and who used only beta-agonists or inhaled corticosteroids(ICS) as asthma medications. The participants were randomly assigned to consume 340 mg (170 mg twice a day) of magnesium or a placebo for 6.5 months. Individuals had their lung function tested using peak expiratory flow (the maximum speed air can be expelled from the lungs) as well as the methacholine challenge test. Metacholine causes constriction of airways. In this test, subjects breath in metacholine at a dose that will induce constriction of the airways. The results revealed that those taking magnesium saw significant improvement in both their peak expiratory flow rate and metacholine challenge results. Researchers also found that asthma control scores improved in those taking magnesium although the results were of borderline significance. In addition, the participants in this study filled out asthma quality of life questionnaires. Asthma quality of life scores improved significantly in the magnesium supplementation group compared to those taking placebo. These results appear to indicate that people with mild to moderate asthma who take magnesium may experience significant improvement in both bronchial reactivity to methacholine, asthma control and quality of life.1
1 Kazaks AG, Uriu-Adams JY, Albertson TE, et al. 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. J Asthma. Feb2010;47(1):83-92.