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Published in: European Journal of Nutrition 2/2022

Open Access 01-03-2022 | Long-COVID Syndrome | Review

The relevance of magnesium homeostasis in COVID-19

Authors: Valentina Trapani, Andrea Rosanoff, Shadi Baniasadi, Mario Barbagallo, Sara Castiglioni, Fernando Guerrero-Romero, Stefano Iotti, André Mazur, Oliver Micke, Guitti Pourdowlat, Giuliana Scarpati, Federica I. Wolf, Jeanette A. Maier

Published in: European Journal of Nutrition | Issue 2/2022

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Abstract

Purpose

In less than one and a half year, the COVID-19 pandemic has nearly brought to a collapse our health care and economic systems. The scientific research community has concentrated all possible efforts to understand the pathogenesis of this complex disease, and several groups have recently emphasized recommendations for nutritional support in COVID-19 patients. In this scoping review, we aim at encouraging a deeper appreciation of magnesium in clinical nutrition, in view of the vital role of magnesium and the numerous links between the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection and magnesium-dependent functions.

Methods

By searching PubMed and Google Scholar from 1990 to date, we review existing evidence from experimental and clinical studies on the role of magnesium in chronic non-communicable diseases and infectious diseases, and we focus on recent reports of alterations of magnesium homeostasis in COVID-19 patients and their association with disease outcomes. Importantly, we conduct a census on ongoing clinical trials specifically dedicated to disclosing the role of magnesium in COVID-19.

Results

Despite many methodological limitations, existing data seem to corroborate an association between deranged magnesium homeostasis and COVID-19, and call for further and better studies to explore the prophylactic or therapeutic potential of magnesium supplementation.

Conclusion

We propose to reconsider the relevance of magnesium, frequently overlooked in clinical practice. Therefore, magnesemia should be monitored and, in case of imbalanced magnesium homeostasis, an appropriate nutritional regimen or supplementation might contribute to protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection, reduce severity of COVID-19 symptoms and facilitate the recovery after the acute phase.
Footnotes
1
Magnesemia is expressed in mmol/L or mg/dL (conversion: mmol/L = mg/dL × 0.4114).
 
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Metadata
Title
The relevance of magnesium homeostasis in COVID-19
Authors
Valentina Trapani
Andrea Rosanoff
Shadi Baniasadi
Mario Barbagallo
Sara Castiglioni
Fernando Guerrero-Romero
Stefano Iotti
André Mazur
Oliver Micke
Guitti Pourdowlat
Giuliana Scarpati
Federica I. Wolf
Jeanette A. Maier
Publication date
01-03-2022
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Journal of Nutrition / Issue 2/2022
Print ISSN: 1436-6207
Electronic ISSN: 1436-6215
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-021-02704-y

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