Magnesium alginate in children with uncontrolled asthma

Abstract

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may be frequently associated with asthma in childrenand may affect asthma control. Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are commonly prescribed in asthmaticchildren, despite uncertain efficacy on respiratory symptoms and risk of relevant adverse effects. Weinvestigated whether Magnesium Alginate (MA), an alternative option to PPI in GERD management,improves symptom control in children with uncontrolled asthma. Children with uncontrolled asthmawere prospectively enrolled at two tertiary care pediatric respiratory centers over 4 years. The recruitedsubjects were randomly assigned to three groups, receiving, in addition to current asthma therapy,PPI, MA or no specific GERD treatment, respectively, for 8 weeks. Lung function, asthma control test(ACT), and asthma control questionnaire (ACQ) were assessed at baseline, at the end of the treatment,and at the follow-up. Both PPI and MA significantly improved ACT and ACQ in comparison withthe control group. ACQ improvement at follow-up resulted more relevant in the MA than in the PPIgroup (p=0.004). No difference between MA and PPI was detected with regard to ACT improvement. Inconclusion, added to standard asthma medications, MA may improve symptom control in children withuncontrolled asthma.