Magnesium is Associated With QoL in COPD: A Cross-sectional Study

Attention is enhancing worldwide on the increasing tendency of insufficient 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum levels. New insights into the role of vitamin D and distribution of its receptors in the human body have been revealed. Presumably, this entails implications concerning disease and treatment that go far beyond the well-known field of bone-metabolism.

Vitamin D deficiency is common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and reductions in vitamin D serum levels have formerly been perceived as a consequence rather than a cause of COPD.

Yet, there is a lack of consensus concerning the role of vitamin D on the decreasing lung function in COPD.

Some trials have revealed a high degree of co-variation between the grade of airway obstruction, intake of vitamin D and reduction of serum-vitamin D. Other claim that vitamin D appears to be capable of inhibiting pulmonary inflammatory responses.

Vitamin D interacts with calcium and magnesium and this subtle balance might be highly relevant in the progression of inflammatory diseases like COPD. Presumably, Mg inhibits contraction and relaxes smooth muscles in airways due to blocking of calcium-ion-flux across the cell membrane.

The aim of this study is to investigate the status of vitamin D, magnesium and calcium in COPD, and to study the relationship and impact of vitamin D, magnesium and calcium in COPD-patients.

The hypothesis of this study is that COPD-patients with vitamin D-, magnesium- and calcium supplement have a better lung function and quality of life, than those who have vitamin D-, magnesium- and calcium deficiency.

Inclusion criteria

• COPD-patients
• Unchanged medical treatment for COPD for the last 4 weeks
• Outpatients
• adults over 40 years

Exclusion criteria

• COPD exacerbation, which resulted in hospitalization and/or modification of medical treatment within 4 weeks
• Patients with other lung diseases, such as active tuberculosis, lung cancer, sarcoidosis and pulmonary fibrosis
• diseases affecting vitamin D and/or calcium and/or magnesium distribution
• Previous lung resection
• Treatment with systemic steroids
• Known addiction problems with alcohol and/or drugs