Effect of Magnesium Supplementation in COPD

Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive

Magnesium (Mg) is involved in several pathways that could be affected in chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPDs), namely in the contractility and excitability of neuro-muscolar endothelial cells and low-grade inflammation, a typical state of COPD. In this sense, several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) confirmed a positive role of Mg in asthma since long-period oral supplementation of Mg leads to a clinical and spirometric improvement. Subjects with COPD seem to have a reduced bioavailability of Mg probably due to the use of drugs that may increase Mg losses (e.g. beta-agonists and cortisones), to a reduced dietary Mg intake, and heavy smoking. A recent study showed that the administration of endovenous or aerosol Mg sulphate with beta-agonists acutely improve maximum expiratory flow during COPD relapses as well as the prolonged treatment with endovenous sulphate Mg led to a reduction in pulmonary hyperinflation and increase in muscles involved in respiration, with a consequent clinical and instrumental improvement. These evidences suggest that a chronic supplementation with Mg could improve COPD in clinical and instrumental parameters, but, at the best of our knowledge, no study was available in this sense.

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