A Study on The Levels of Serum Vitamin D and Magnesium in Asthma Severity

Abstract

Serum magnesium levels influence the concentration of circulating vitamin D in blood, which in turn influence immunity; thus, it plays an important role in the asthma pathogenesis. Adult asthma is less studied, hypomagnesemia along with the vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency, is common in asthmatic patients, causing frequent attacks of asthma, infections of respiratory tract, severe exacerbations, and poor bronchodilator response. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To measure vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency levels, as well as levels of serum magnesium in asthmatic patients, and correlate them with asthma severity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional case-control study with 60 chronic stable asthma patients and 60 healthy controls. A pulmonary function test was performed following the clinical history and systemic examination. All subjects had their serum levels of magnesium, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol [25(OH)D] measured. RESULTS: A significant relationship was observed between vitamin D deficiency, hypomagnesemia, and asthma severity. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D and serum magnesium deficiency are frequent in asthma patients. Lower levels of one or both are associated with increased asthma severity, frequency of attacks, and exacerbation. Serum 25(OH)D and magnesium levels may be useful indicators of asthma severity.