According to research appearing in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition ((2007) 61, 54–60. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602475; published online 21 June 2006), magnesium supplementation may be of benefit to children with asthma. The double-blind, placebo-controlled study involved 37 subjects between the ages of 7 and 19. They were divided into two groups, one group receiving 300 mg of magnesium per day and the other group receiving a placebo. After two months a methacholine challenge test (PC20) was utilized to test bronchial reactivity, the ease in which the airways can be irritated. The group receiving the magnesium experienced improvement, the control group did not. The group receiving the magnesium also had an average of 28% fewer days of severe asthma and reduced their use of asthma medication by 40%. As an added benefit, the supplemented group had a decreased reaction to allergens (as detected by skin tests).