Being low in magnesium increases the risk of asthma and worsens the severity.

A study set out to determine if long term supplementation with magnesium (6 and a half months) could improve asthma control in men and women with mild to moderate asthma. The study was published in The Journal of Asthma, which is the official journal of the Association for the Care of Asthma.

55 men and women between the ages of 21 and 55 were recruited. Each participant was either given 340 mg of magnesium daily, or a placebo. At the end of the study all of the subjects were given a number of comprehensive tests to check the severity of their asthma. Tests included lung function tests and blood tests (for C-reactive protein). The researchers also wanted to know how the participants felt about their asthma by the end of the trial; whether they felt more in control of their asthma and if their quality of life had improved.

The results were overwhelmingly positive in terms of objective and subjective measures of asthma severity. I am not surprised by this finding because I always recommend magnesium to my asthma patients. It helps improve their lung function, and makes most people feel calmer and less anxious. It is very difficult to get enough magnesium through food, and things like stress, caffeine and alcohol all deplete the body of this vital nutrient. If you or your child suffers with asthma, you would benefit from a supplement.

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