Association between Hypomagnesemia, COVID-19, Respiratory Tract and Lung Disease

Gavino Faa; Luca Saba; Daniela Fanni; Goce Kalcev; Mauro Carta

doi:10.2174/1874306402115010043

Association between Hypomagnesemia, COVID-19, Respiratory Tract and Lung Disease

Open Respir Med J. 2021 Sep 17:15:43-45. doi: 10.2174/1874306402115010043. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Gavino Faa^{1

2}, Luca Saba³, Daniela Fanni^{1

2}, Goce Kalcev⁴, Mauro Carta⁵

Affiliations

¹ Division of Pathology, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University Hospital San Giovanni di Dio, Cagliari, Italy.
² Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
³ Department of Medical Imaging, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria (AOU) of Cagliari-Polo di Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
⁴ International Ph.D. in Innovation Sciences and Technologies, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
⁵ Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.

Abstract

The complexity of COVID-19 is also related to the multiple molecular pathways triggered by SARS-CoV-2, which is able to cause type I pneumocyte death, trigger intravascular coagulation, interfere with the renin-angiotensin system, dysregulate iron metabolism, ending with the insurgence of a cytokine storm which may lead to death. Old adults with obesity, hypertension, and diabetes are among the high-risk category groups more prone to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Magnesium has been reported to play a major role both in physiology and in pathology, particularly in elderly people, regulating cytotoxic functions of natural killer (NK) cells and CD8+ T lymphocytes. In spite of the absence of controlled trials, the possibility of magnesium supplementation for supportive treatment in patients with COVID-19 should be encouraged. This could be useful in all phases of the COVID-19 disease.

Keywords: COVID-19; Effects; Lung diseases; Magnesium; Magnesium deficiency; Obesity.

Publication types

Editorial