Blood Serum Magnesium Values in Chronic Stable Asthmatic Patients: A Case - Control Study

Background: Bronchial asthma is characterized by airways inflammation and hyperreactivity of tracheobronchial tree. Magnesium (Mg) deficiency leads to increased airways hyperreactivity. This study was performed on patients with chronic stable asthma to determine their blood serum magnesium values and compare them with general healthy population to assess whether there is a difference between them. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective, case-control study which was performed on patients with chronic stable asthma in Loghman Hakim Hospital. Forty-two consecutive volunteer patients with chronic stable asthma according to the definite criteria and healthy sex and age-matched subjects were chosen. Secondary causes of hypomagnesemia were found out by the questionnaire and were ruled out. Serum blood sample for measuring magnesium value was obtained. Normal values were 1.8 mg/dl in males and 1.9 mg/dl in females. Results: In the final exam, significant difference between two groups was noted (P 0.001). Hypomagnesemia was detected in 40.5% of the chronic stable asthmatic patients. Overall mean age was 40.16±12.8 yrs. and the mean Mg value was 1.85±0.28. Male to female ratio was 23/19. Conclusion: Hypomagnesemia was confirmed in chronic stable asthma in Iranian patients. It may be due to the quality and quantity of using therapeutic agents and type of diets which are low in magnesium supply. However, further evaluation is needed.