MAGNESIUM LEVELS IN STABLE ASTHMATIC CHILDREN: ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH ASTHMA CONTROL AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS

Abstract

Bronchial asthma is the most prevalent chronic airway disorder in children. Its prevalence has
been noted to be on the increase worldwide. Magnesium, an essential trace element largely
derivable from dietary intake, is known to cause bronchial smooth muscle relaxation which
may relieve asthma symptoms. Hypomagnesaemia predisposes the airways to increased
smooth muscle excitability and bronchoconstriction with resultant frequent exacerbations.
This cross-sectional comparative study aimed to determine the magnesium level and its
relationship with the levels of asthma control and nutritional status of stable asthmatic
children aged 6 – 16 years attending Asthma Clinic at the University of Nigeria Teaching
Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla Enugu.
The serum magnesium levels of thirty children with stable asthma aged 6 – 16 years
attending Asthma Clinic were compared with those of thirty children without asthma,
matched for age and sex, seen at Children Outpatient Clinic, UNTH. Information on the
biodata and medical history of the study participants was documented. Anthropometric
measurements such as weight and height were taken and their body mass indices calculated.
The nutritional status of the study participants, determined using weight-for-age, height-for
age and body mass index (BMI)-for-age z scores, was calculated using WHO anthroplus
software 2007. Systemic examination was done on each of the participants. Asthma control
for the previous four weeks was assessed using Asthma Therapy Assessment Questionnaire
(ATAQ) while serum magnesium was determined using Atomic Absorption
Spectrophotometer (AAS).
The mean serum magnesium level (2.75 ± 1.04 mg/dl) of the asthmatic group was significantly
lower than the non-asthmatic controls (3.54 ± 1.01 mg/dl), p < 0.05. A significant association
was found between the serum magnesium levels and levels of asthma control (p = 0.015).
However there was no significant association between the serum magnesium levels and
nutritional status of the study participants (p = 0.782).
This study concludes that the serum magnesium level of the stable asthmatic children is
significantly lower than that of the non-asthmatic controls and that it has significant association
with their levels of asthma control but not with their nutritional status.
It therefore recommends that there is a need to conduct a case-control comparative study of
magnesium levels of asthmatic children both in stable state and in exacerbation in our
environment so as to determine if their magnesium level is much lower during acute
exacerbation.

MAGNESIUM LEVELS IN STABLE ASTHMATIC CHILDREN: ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH ASTHMA CONTROL AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS