Serum Magnesium and Vitamin D Levels as Indicators of Asthma Severity

Abstract

Background. Serum magnesium levels affect the concentration of circulating vitamin D in blood and subsequently it affects the immunity; thus it plays significant role in the pathogenesis of asthma. Asthma, in adults, is less studied and hypomagnesemia along with vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency is common in asthmatic individuals, which causes frequent asthma attacks, respiratory infections, severe exacerbations, and poor response to bronchodilators. Objective. To detect the magnitude of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency and serum magnesium levels among asthmatic patients and to correlate them with the severity of asthma. Materials and Methods. This is a cross-sectional case-control study which includes 60 patients of chronic stable asthma and 60 healthy controls. After taking clinical history and systemic examination, pulmonary function test was done. Serum levels of magnesium, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol [25(OH)D], and calcium were measured in all the subjects. Results. Significant correlation was found between vitamin D deficiency, hypomagnesemia, and asthma severity. Serum calcium levels were unaffected by that. Conclusion. Vitamin D and serum magnesium deficiency are highly prevalent in patients with asthma. Increased asthma severity, frequency of attacks, and exacerbation are associated with lower levels of one or both. Serum 25(OH)D and magnesium levels may serve as important markers of asthma severity.

Vitamin D Compounds Are Bactericidal against Streptococcus mutans and Target the Bacitracin-Associated Efflux System

“…The health benefits of vitamin D are wide ranging, and it has been shown to influence various metabolic systems in the body. Serum vitamin D levels vary slightly depending on ethnicity, region, gender, season, and age, with acceptable values reported to be in the 30-to 68-ng/ml range, whereas deficiency was characterized as Ͻ20 ng/ml (Ͻ50 nmol/liter) (11). Vitamin D has been suggested to play a role in the etiology of many chronic diseases, so that deficiency is correlated with a negative outcome, as in the cases of rheumatoid arthritis (12), respiratory infections (13), asthma (11), cancer (14,15), periodontitis (16), and gingivitis (17).…”

Childhood Bronchial Asthma

“…Cholecalciferol decreases the risk of chronic infections; cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disorders and malignancy. 5 Previous studies [3][4][5] have reported low serum cholecalciferol in asthma and negative association of it with bronchial asthma. Previous studies 6,7 have shown cholecalciferol deficiency in childhood bronchial asthma, and its correlation with severity of asthma symptoms.…”

“…Childhood asthma is increasing, with estimated prevalence of 10-25%. 2,3 Childhood asthma is one of leading lung disease reporting at the emergency rooms often necessitating hospitalization. Childhood asthma has a great negative impact on the social and economic perspectives of families.…”

Human Vitamin D Deficiency in Tibet

“…In recent years, research groups point out that vitamin D can prevent tooth decay [13]; vitamin D deficiency not only makes people feeling of fatigue [14] [15], but also can make people depressed or even cause depression [16]. A large number of studies further point out that many diseases are accompanied by vitamin D deficiency, and the vitamin D level can indicate the severity of some certain diseases [17]. Therefore, it is essential to improve the level of vitamin D.…”