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Magnesium is involved in many biological processes within the body. Magnesium deficiency causes many disorders, including impairment of immunity. This review summarizes present knowledge on the relationship between magnesium and skin allergy reactions. Special focus is on allergy types I and IV. At present the best knowledge is on allergy I. Magnesium deficiency in experimental animals, mainly rats, leads to characteristic hyperemia, an increase in IgE, neutrophilia and eosinophilia, an increase in the level of proinflammatory cytokines, mastocyte degranulation, histaminemia, and splenomegaly. These symptoms observed in hypomagnesemic rats are similar to those in atopic patients. Data on the relationship between magnesium and other types of allergy are scarce. Clinical observations show the beneficial effect of topical and oral administration of magnesium salts in patients with skin allergy. All the presented data point to an important role of magnesium in allergy reactions. Other studies are needed to better understand the mechanism of magnesium's action. Well-controlled clinical protocols should also be conducted to assess the efficiency of magnesium supplementation in patients with skin allergy.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of VIBOVITmama (Polfa Kutno S.A.) supplementation on lipid peroxidation (MDA) and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in blood of pregnant women and in umbilical cord blood of their children. It is shown, that MDA concentration in plasma increased during pregnancy in both studied groups; however in vitamin-mineral C supplemented women it was lower (p < 0.05) than in placebo (p < 0.005). In erythrocytes MDA level was within the same range in both groups, but in women taking vibovit it was (in late pregnancy) lower by 10% than in trimester I. Activity of GPx in red blood cells decreased during pregnancy. In placebo the fall was two-fold more intensive (16%) than in the supplemented group (p < 0.005). Activity of erythrocytes SOD slightly increased (5%) in placebo, whereas in the group taking the formula it decreased (4%) but not statistically significant. MDA level in plasma of cord blood was not modified by supplementation, but in red blood cells was lowered by 20% (97.3 nmol/gHb-supplemented vs 116.3 nmol/gHb-placebo) which was observed. In erythrocytes of umbilical cord blood activity of GPx was higher in newborns of women taking vibovit (31.9 U/gHb) than in the control group (29.7 U/gHb), whereas activity of SOD was similar. Our result suggested that vitamin-mineral supplementation of pregnant women improved antioxidant status in mothers and their children. It seems that in order to prevent oxidative damage VIBOVITmama formula can be recommended as a supplement diet in pregnant women.

Chromium (Cr3+) is an essential trace element for animals and humans. Its deficiency in organisms causes e.g. disturbances of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, hypoglycemia, impaired glucose tolerance, elevated cholesterol and triglycerides in blood, but a decrease in HDL-cholesterol. It plays an important role in insulin-receptor activation. In the literature, antioxidative and anti-diabetic effects of chromium were also described. An excess of trivalent chromium can act as a prooxidant.

The levels of calcium, magnesium and iron in amniotic fluid and serum taken from women during first half of pregnancy were compared. The relationship between these levels and vitamin-mineral supplementation was also estimated. There was similar calcium and magnesium concentration in the serum and amniotic fluid. The concentration of iron in serum was four times as large as in amniotic fluid. Any influence of supplementation on concentration of studied minerals was noted.