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

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.