The Role of Magnesium Supplementation in the Treatment of Permanent Atrial Fibrillation: A Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2026.73.75728Keywords
atrial fibrillation, magnesium, hypomagnesemia, arrhythmiaAbstract
Introduction and objective. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common sustained arrhythmias in the population. Growing interest in the impact of electrolyte disturbances on the pathomechanism of AF creates opportunities to evaluate the effectiveness of their supplementation in a therapeutic context.
Aim. To present the current state of knowledge regarding the role of magnesium in the prevention and treatment of AF, particularly in patients with permanent AF.
Materials and Methods. A narrative literature review was conducted using available databases, searching for publications published between 2005 and 2025. After applying the inclusion criteria, selected publications were analyzed, including randomized trials, cohort studies, and review articles.
Results. Magnesium plays an important role in the functioning of the cardiovascular system. It contributes to the electrical stability of cardiomyocytes and influences proper conduction within the cardiac conduction system. Most available publications focus on its role in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, while there is a lack of clear evidence confirming the effectiveness of incorporating magnesium into the standard treatment of permanent AF.
Conclusions. Despite its potential antiarrhythmic properties, magnesium is not included in recommendations for the chronic treatment of AF, and its use is mainly limited to correcting possible deficiencies. The limited availability of high-quality methodological studies indicates the need for further research to determine the role of magnesium in the treatment of permanent AF.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Oliwia Barbara Gutowska, Weronika Nowak, Wiktoria Magdalena Kostuch, Łukasz Kowalewski, Maria Aleksandra Styczyńska, Amir Naziri, Julianna Rozalia Chyl, Agata Zimon, Martyna Zielnik, Katarzyna Stróżna
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