Center for Magnesium Education & Research

Lung Disease

Magnesium plays a role in lung health and has been studied in relation to asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and other respiratory conditions. Magnesium is essential for bronchodilation and some studies indicate that a higher magnesium intake is associated with improved lung function. Research suggests that low serum magnesium levels may be linked to COPD, a progressive lung disease characterized by airflow limitation and recurrent exacerbations. Magnesium has been investigated as a treatment for asthma attacks, and some studies suggest that magnesium supplementation may potentially help reduce the frequency and severity of asthma symptoms. While research findings are promising, further large-scale, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are needed to establish clinical guidelines for magnesium use in lung-related diseases.

Following is a list of selected research articles related to magnesium and lung health.

Liang M, Ren X, Zhang Q, Ruan Z, Jin M, Xu Y, Chen X, Qiu Z. The association between dietary magnesium intake and frailty in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2024 Dec 7;19:2651-2660. doi: 10.2147/COPD.S485017.   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39669760/

Zhao Y, Li H, Wang Z, Qi Y, Chang Y, Li Y, Xu D, Chen X. Exploring the association between magnesium deficiency and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases in NHANES 2005-2018. Sci Rep. 2024 Oct 29;14(1):25981. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-76374-1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39472459/

Wang KJ, Chen H, Wang J, Wang Y. Association between magnesium depletion score and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease risk: a secondary data analysis from NHANES. BMJ Open. 2024 Jun 4;14(6):e083275. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-083275. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38834314/

Lin ZF, Lin HW, Liao WZ, Huang ZM, Liao XY, Wang YY, Guo XG. The association between dietary magnesium intake with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung function in US population: a cross-sectional study. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2024 Jul;202(7):3062-3072. doi: 10.1007/s12011-024-04073-z. Epub 2024 Jan 26. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37598672/

Cao J, Liu M, Wang Z, Huang Y, Zheng K. Interaction between serum cotinine and magnesium intake with childhood asthma: a cross-sectional study. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2023;184(11):1090-1098. doi: 10.1159/000531730. Epub 2023 Aug 18. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37598672/ 

Zanforlini BM, Ceolin C, Trevisan C, Alessi A, Seccia DM, Noale M, Maggi S, Guarnieri G, Vianello A, Sergi G. Clinical trial on the effects of oral magnesium supplementation in stable-phase COPD patients. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2022 Jan;34(1):167-174. doi: 10.1007/s40520-021-01921-z. Epub 2021 Jul 14. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34260036/

Ye M, Li Q, Xiao L, Zheng Z. Serum magnesium and fractional exhaled nitric oxide in relation to the severity in asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2021 May;199(5):1771-1777. doi: 10.1007/s12011-020-02314-5. Epub 2020 Sep 18. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32948976/

Dana N, Karimi R, Mansourian M, Javanmard SH, Laher I, Vaseghi G. Magnesium intake and lung cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2021 Sep;91(5-6):539-546. doi: 10.1024/0300-9831/a000598. Epub 2019 Jul 15. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31303138/

Abuabat F, AlAlwan A, Masuadi E, Murad MH, Jahdali HA, Ferwana MS. The role of oral magnesium supplements for the management of stable bronchial asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis. NPJ Prim Care Respir Med. 2019 Feb 18;29(1):4. doi: 10.1038/s41533-019-0116-z. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30778086/

Song X, Zhong X, Tang K, Wu G, Jiang Y. Serum magnesium levels and lung cancer risk: a meta-analysis. World J Surg Oncol. 2018 Jul 12;16(1):137. doi: 10.1186/s12957-018-1447-x. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30001198/

Forte GC, da Silva DTR, Hennemann ML, Sarmento RA, Almeida JC, de Tarso Roth Dalcin P. Diet effects in the asthma treatment: A systematic review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2018 Jul 24;58(11):1878-1887. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2017.1289893. Epub 2017 Jun 12. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28362110/

Shaikh MN, Malapati BR, Gokani R, Patel B, Chatriwala M. Serum magnesium and vitamin D levels as indicators of asthma severity. Pulm Med. 2016;2016:1643717. doi: 10.1155/2016/1643717. Epub 2016 Oct 12. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27818797/

Santi M, Milani GP, Simonetti GD, Fossali EF, Bianchetti MG, Lava SA. Magnesium in cystic fibrosis–Systematic review of the literature. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2016 Feb;51(2):196-202. doi: 10.1002/ppul.23356. Epub 2015 Dec 10. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26663706/

Hashim Ali Hussein S, Nielsen LP, Konow Bøgebjerg Dolberg M, Dahl R. Serum magnesium and not vitamin D is associated with better QoL in COPD: A cross-sectional study. Respir Med. 2015 Jun;109(6):727-33. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2015.03.005. Epub 2015 Mar 27. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25892292/

Gontijo-Amaral C, Guimarães EV, Camargos P. Oral magnesium supplementation in children with cystic fibrosis improves clinical and functional variables: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2012 Jul;96(1):50-6. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.112.034207. Epub 2012 May 30. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22648717/

Kazaks AG, Uriu-Adams JY, Albertson TE, Shenoy SF, Stern JS. Effect of oral magnesium supplementation on measures of airway resistance and subjective assessment of asthma control and quality of life in men and women with mild to moderate asthma: a randomized placebo controlled trial. J Asthma. 2010 Feb;47(1):83-92. doi: 10.3109/02770900903331127.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20100026/

Mahabir S, Forman MR, Dong YQ, Park Y, Hollenbeck A, Schatzkin A. Mineral intake and lung cancer risk in the NIH-American Association of Retired Persons Diet and Health study. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2010 Aug;19(8):1976-83. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-10-0067. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20696660/

Bede O. Efficacy of magnesium in children with bronchial asthma. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2009 Apr;63(4):589-90. doi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602947. Epub 2007 Nov 7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17987053/

Hirayama F, Lee AH, Binns CW, Zhao Y, Hiramatsu T, Tanikawa Y, Nishimura K, Taniguchi H. Soy consumption and risk of COPD and respiratory symptoms: a case-control study in Japan. Respir Res. 2009 Jun 26;10(1):56. doi: 10.1186/1465-9921-10-56. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19558645/

Gontijo-Amaral C, Ribeiro MA, Gontijo LS, Condino-Neto A, Ribeiro JD. Oral magnesium supplementation in asthmatic children: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007 Jan;61(1):54-60. doi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602475. Epub 2006 Jun 21. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16788707/

Gontijo-Amaral C, Ribeiro MA, Gontijo LS, Condino-Neto A, Ribeiro JD. Oral magnesium supplementation in asthmatic children: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007 Jan;61(1):54-60. doi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602475. Epub 2006 Jun 21. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16788707/

Sedighi M, Pourpak Z, Bavarian B, Safaralizadeh R, Zare A, Moin M. Low magnesium concentration in erythrocytes of children with acute asthma. Iran J Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2006 Dec;5(4):183-6.  .https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17237571/

Sinert R, Spektor M, Gorlin A, Doty C, Rubin A, Altura BT, Altura BM. Ionized magnesium levels and the ratio of ionized calcium to magnesium in asthma patients before and after treatment with magnesium. Scand J Clin Lab Invest. 2005;65(8):659-70. doi: 10.1080/00365510500333825. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16319040/

Emelyanov A, Fedoseev G, Barnes PJ. Reduced intracellular magnesium concentrations in asthmatic patients. Eur Respir J. 1999 Jan;13(1):38-40. doi: 10.1183/09031936.99.13103899. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10836320/

Hashimoto Y, Nishimura Y, Maeda H, Yokoyama M. Assessment of magnesium status in patients with bronchial asthma. J Asthma. 2000 Sep;37(6):489-96. doi: 10.3109/02770900009055475. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11011755/

Paolisso G, Tagliamonte MR, Barbieri M, Zito GA, Gambardella A, Varricchio G, Ragno E, Varricchio M. Chronic vitamin E administration improves brachial reactivity and increases intracellular magnesium concentration in type II diabetic patients. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2000 Jan;85(1):109-15. doi: 10.1210/jcem.85.1.6258. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10634373/

Rodriguez BL, Masaki K, Burchfiel C, Curb JD, Fong KO, Chyou PH, Marcus EB. Pulmonary function decline and 17-year total mortality: the Honolulu Heart Program. Am J Epidemiol. 1994 Sep 1;140(5):398-408. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a117262. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8067332/

Landon RA, Young EA. Role of magnesium in regulation of lung function. J Am Diet Assoc. 1993 Jun;93(6):674-7. doi: 10.1016/0002-8223(93)91675-g. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8509592/

Green JH, Muers MF. Comparisons between basal metabolic rate and diet-induced thermogenesis in different types of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Clin Sci (Lond). 1992 Jul;83(1):109-16. doi: 10.1042/cs0830109. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1325314/

Rolla G, Bucca C. Hypomagnesemia and bronchial hyperreactivity. A case report. Allergy. 1989 Sep;44(7):519-21. doi: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.1989.tb04192.x. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2817308/

Fiaccadori E, Del Canale S, Coffrini E, Melej R, Vitali P, Guariglia A, Borghetti A. Muscle and serum magnesium in pulmonary intensive care unit patients. Crit Care Med. 1988 Aug;16(8):751-60. doi: 10.1097/00003246-198808000-00004. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3396369/

Okayama H, Aikawa T, Okayama M, Sasaki H, Mue S, Takishima T. Bronchodilating effect of intravenous magnesium sulfate in bronchial asthma. JAMA. 1987 Feb 27;257(8):1076-8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3806898/

Maitani T, Suzuki KT. Metal content ratio as a sensitive indicator of pulmonary edema. Toxicol Lett. 1981 Nov;9(3):295-300. doi: 10.1016/0378-4274(81)90164-8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7314134/

Chyrek-Borowska S, Obrzut D, Hofman J. The relation between magnesium, blood histamine level and eosinophilia in the acute stage of the allergic reactions in humans. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz). 1978;26(1-6):709-12. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/749826/