Trace element and magnesium in patients with bronchial asthma

Background
Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory system. Trace elements play roles in inflammation and may affect bronchial asthma.


Aim
This study aimed to determine the concentrations of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and magnesium (Mg) in the sera of patients and to evaluate their value in asthma severity and control.


Participants and methods
This study was carried out on 71 asthmatic adult patients and 20 healthy control participants. Patients were diagnosed with bronchial asthma based on clinical history and the presence of reversible airway obstruction in spirometry. Levels of serum trace elements (Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mg) were determined in all participants.


Results
The serum levels of Zn and Mg were lower in patients with asthma in comparison with the controls, while the serum levels of Fe and Cu were higher in patients with asthma in comparison with the healthy controls. The P value was significant for Zn (P<0.008) and Fe (P<0.016). There was no difference between serum levels of trace elements in different grades of asthma severity or control.


Conclusion
Asthmatic patients had abnormal serum trace element levels such as lower serum Zn and higher serum Fe levels than the controls, but without a significant relation to the degree of asthma severity or its level of control.