The unobvious role of vitamin B6 in the prevention of cytokine storm during Covid-19

Allowed during pregnancy

Allowed for children

Allowed for older people

Magnesium is one of the most important macroelements for the human body. Along with other minerals and vitamins, magnesium is necessary for the normal functioning of various systems, tissues and organs. The trace element is involved in a number of processes:

thermoregulation;
metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and phosphorus;
control of cell purification and division.

Taking part in metabolic processes, magnesium enters into close interaction with potassium, calcium and sodium, serves as an activator of a large number of enzymes, promotes the formation of proteins, and is also a key component in the regulation of various physiological processes.

If there is a deficiency, it becomes necessary to use a special drug - Magnerot, or its analogues.

Analogues of Magnerot

On the domestic market, this drug only has analogue drugs, and therefore you will not be able to find synonyms (completely identical drugs, but under a different name). By analogues we mean those drugs that contain a different active substance, while they have a very similar therapeutic effect. In the case of Magnerot, analogues are those medicines that contain different magnesium compounds.

Magnerot has several analogues, and they are sold at a more attractive price. Some cheap analogues of Magnerot have one drawback - they may contain auxiliary components, the quality of which leaves much to be desired. Otherwise, they are not inferior to Magnerot in efficiency.

When choosing an analogue of Magnerot, it is recommended to first consult with a doctor - he will help you make the right choice.

Comparison of safety of Magnerot and Magnemax

The safety of a drug includes many factors.

At the same time, in Magnerot it is quite similar to Magnemax. It is important where the drug is metabolized: drugs are excreted from the body either unchanged or in the form of products of their biochemical transformations. Metabolism occurs spontaneously, but most often involves major organs such as the liver, kidneys, lungs, skin, brain and others. When assessing the metabolism of Magnerot, as well as Magnemax, we look at which organ is the metabolizing organ and how critical the effect on it is.

The risk-benefit ratio is when the prescription of a drug is undesirable, but justified under certain conditions and circumstances, with the obligatory observance of caution in use. At the same time, Magnerot does not have any risks when used, just like Magnemax.

Also, when calculating safety, it is taken into account whether only allergic reactions occur or possible dysfunction of the main organs. In other matters, as well as the reversibility of the consequences of using Magnerot and Magnemax.

Analogs from domestic manufacturers

Magnelis B6 is a high-quality analogue of Magnerot tablets, prescribed for magnesium deficiency. The composition includes magnesium lactate as an active substance and sucrose, which is an additional component. The analogue is permitted during pregnancy, but in case of renal failure, use is contraindicated. Children under six years of age are allowed only as prescribed by a doctor. During administration, adverse reactions such as allergies, vomiting and nausea may occur.
Magnesium Plus B6. This magnesium replenishment product is contraindicated for kidney disease, children under 6 years of age, and lactose deficiency/intolerance. The same side effects may occur as in the case of Magnelis B6. This Russian analogue of Magnerot is inexpensive.

For heart disease, neurovegetative symptoms and blood pressure above normal, you should give preference to Magnerot, as it is characterized by a more pronounced effect on the blood vessels and heart. In other cases, you can choose any of the medications described above.

Cheap structural analogues of the drug

Almost every modern medicine has a number of similar remedies, and Magnerot is no exception. The most popular analogues of the main medicine are drugs of domestic, Ukrainian and Belarusian production due to their low cost.

Magnelis B6

Magnelis B6 is a domestically produced analogue, which is considered the best substitute for Magnerot. Pharmaceutical group – “Mineral impurities (magnesium preparations)”. Magnelis is sold in tablet form. One tablet contains 470 mg of magnesium lactate and 5 mg of pyridoxine. Additional components are povidone, sucrose, lauryl sulfate, silicon, talc, polyvinyl acetate and magnesium stearate. The medication compensates for the lack of Mg in the body and is used for diseases that arise due to its deficiency.

Magnelis B6

Contraindications:

Allergy to any component of the composition, including lactose intolerance.
Severe kidney dysfunction.
Phenylketonuria.

You should also refrain from using the drug when treating children under 6 years of age and women during lactation, since the drug passes into breast milk.

Directions for use: orally (with water). The time of taking the drug depends on the time of eating, since many experts recommend taking Magnelis with meals for better absorption. The average dose of the drug ranges from 6 to 8 tablets per day, depending on the severity of the disease. Frequency of administration – 2-3 times a day. The daily amount of the drug for children is determined taking into account the child’s weight and on average is 3-6 tablets.

Treatment with Magnelis requires constant blood donation for Mg content. As soon as the microelement balance is restored, therapy should be stopped. Magnelis is well tolerated by the body and rarely causes adverse reactions. Possible side effects include: nausea, vomiting, increased gas formation, constipation and abdominal pain. It is also possible to develop allergic reactions in the form of skin rash, itching and urticaria. Magnelis differs from Magnerot in the concentration of the active component in 1 tablet.

Magnesium B6

Also among Russian-made analogues is the drug Magnesium B6 aptek_ANAdesh-068. The medicine is also a magnesium preparation and is prescribed to people with its deficiency. Mg helps restore performance, relieve spasms, especially of the gastrointestinal tract, and normalize heart rate. The medication also helps eliminate irritability and minor sleep disturbances that were caused by a lack of trace elements in the blood.

Magnesium B6 is sold in the form of coated tablets, shaped like a capsule. The active components in the composition are magnesium lactate (470 mg) and pyridoxine hydrochloride (5 mg) + vitamin B6. The presence of vitamin B6 in the structure helps to shorten the absorption period of Mg and accelerate its entry into the body's cells. The composition also contains milk sugar (therefore, people with lactose intolerance are prohibited from taking the medication). Magnesium B6 is contraindicated for the same diseases and conditions as Magnelis. You should refrain from taking the medication while breastfeeding.

For an adult, the initial daily dose of the drug is 6-8 tablets, which is divided into 2-3 doses. Children over 6 years old and weighing more than 20 kg should start therapy with 4 tablets per day. As a rule, the drug is taken for 4 weeks, or until normal Mg levels in the blood are restored. Taking Magnesium B6 can cause constipation, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea with vomiting and allergies. An overdose of Magnesium is possible only if at the beginning of therapy there was a sufficient amount of the microelement in the blood. Difference from Magnerot: contains a different concentration of Mg.

Magnesium overdose

Magwit

Magvit is a Belarusian substitute for Magnerot, the active ingredient of which is magnesium citrate along with pyridoxine. The manufacturer used lactose, potato starch and magnesium stearate as auxiliary components. Medicinal group – mineral supplements.

The medication is available in the form of yellow capsules, the shell of which contains glycerol, pharmaceutical gelatin, sodium lauryl sulfate, nipazole, nipagin, purified water and yellow dyes. One cardboard package contains 30 capsules placed in blisters.

Magvit helps restore Mg balance in the body. The medicine is used for diseases and symptoms that were caused by Mg deficiency. These symptoms include:

Minor sleep disturbances.
Fast fatiguability.
Increased anxiety and irritability.
Rapid heartbeat in the absence of cardiovascular pathologies.
Intestinal spasms.
Muscle cramps.

Magvit is contraindicated for people with normal levels of Mg in the body, as well as patients with lactose intolerance, kidney dysfunction and children under 6 years of age. Well tolerated by the body. Possible side effects include bloating, abdominal pain and constipation.

Constipation

Magvit is prescribed 1-2 capsules several times a day. It is better to take the drug during meals with a glass of water. The maximum dose is 6 capsules/day. The course of treatment depends on the speed of restoration of magnesium levels in the body. The drug interferes with the body's absorption of iron. Since the launch of the drug until now, no cases of overdose with Magvit have been reported. Magvit differs from the main drug in dosage form and Mg concentration.

Magnemax

Magnemax is a Ukrainian-made magnesium preparation, which is sold in the form of two-layer tablets consisting of the preparation itself and a film shell. External characteristics of the form of sale: white tablets, shaped like an oval. On one side there is a notch on the surface of the tablet.

Magnemax belongs to the B complex of vitamins and minerals. The action of the drug is based on Mg (100 mg/1 tab) and pyridoxine (10 mg/1 tab). The form-modeling components are titanium dioxide, talc, triacetin, magnesium stearate, polyethylene glycol and lactose.

Mg is a vital element that is involved in almost all enzymatic processes, being part of many body tissues, including skeletal. Therefore, with Mg deficiency comes hyperexcitability, irritability, weakness, tingling in the muscles and increased heart rate. Magnemax eliminates these symptoms by increasing the amount of Mg in the blood.

Causes of magnesium deficiency

The drug is contraindicated in patients with severe kidney damage, excess vitamin B6, myasthenia gravis, low blood pressure, lactose intolerance, diarrhea and phenylketonuria. Magnemax is also contraindicated in breastfeeding women and children under 6 years of age.

The tablets are taken orally. The medicine must be swallowed whole, without chewing and with a significant amount of liquid. The average daily dose for an adult patient is 3-4 tablets. Frequency of administration – 2-3 times/day. The dose of the drug for a child is selected taking into account his weight. Thus, children weighing more than 20 kg are allowed to take 2-4 tablets per day, divided into a couple of doses.

Complications while taking Magnemax manifest themselves in the form of nausea, vomiting, constipation and allergic skin reactions. The development of an overdose is possible only in the presence of concomitant kidney disease. Magnemax differs from the main drug in the concentration of the active substance, auxiliary components and the presence of a film shell.

Ukrainian-made substitutes

Asparkam. The medication helps normalize the balance of ions, not only magnesium, but also potassium. It contains two active ingredients - potassium and magnesium aspartate, 175 mg per tablet. There are also auxiliary components - calcium, starch and talc.
Panangin. Used after myocardial infarction, for heart failure, in additional therapy to increase the effectiveness and tolerability of glycosidones. Available in both tablet and injection form. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, it is allowed to be taken exclusively in the form of injections.
Magnemax. It has the form of two-layer tablets, consisting of a film shell and the drug itself. Sold at a fairly affordable price.

Belarusian funds

Among the Belarusian substitutes for Magnerot, Magvit can be noted, the active substances of which are magnesium citrate and pyridoxine. It also contains the following auxiliary components:

potato starch;
lactose;
magnesium stearate.

Magnerot is available in the form of yellow capsules.

Shell includes:

glycerol;
gelatin;
Propylparaben;
sodium lauryl sulfate;
nipaginj;
purified water;
dye.

Release forms, structural analogues and prices

The medication is available in the form of flat tablets, on the surface of which there is a score and a chamfer. The tablets are placed in blisters, 10 pieces each. One cardboard package can contain 2 or 5 blisters, that is, 20 or 50 tablets. The amount of the drug in the package significantly affects its cost. The concentration of the active substance is 500 mg of magnesium orotate dihydrate, which is equal to 32.8 mg of Mg. The color of the dosage form is white, without dark inclusions and impurities.

The drug can be stored for 5 years out of the reach of children. The dispensing rate is over-the-counter. The price of Magnerot is quite high, and not everyone can afford to complete the full course of treatment with this drug. In view of this, the demand for cheap analogues of the drug Magnerot is growing in Russia.

Experts, as a rule, recommend selecting analogues that are similar in composition. These analogues include:

Magnelis B6.
Magnesium B6.
Magne-B6.
Magwit.
Magnemax.

These medications are complete structural analogues of the main drug. They are based on an identical mechanism of action, which makes it possible to use all of the listed medications for similar diseases. The main advantage of analogues is their low cost. It is worth knowing that there are also cheaper magnesium-based products that are not complete analogues of Magnerot, but have a similar effect - Asparkam, Cardiomagnyl.

Indications

Magnerot and its analogues may be prescribed in the following cases:

myocardial infarction;
chronic heart failure;
magnesium-dependent arrhythmia;
angina pectoris;
muscle spasms;
essential hypertension;
blood pressure surges;
diabetic retinopathy and angiopathy;
atherosclerosis;
hyperlipidemia;
cachexia;
neurovegetative disorders.

Magnerot and its analogues are also used to improve stress tolerance, both physical and mental.

Contraindications

Among the contraindications are:

intolerance to the components of the drug;
simultaneous use of other medications that contain magnesium;
severe heart rhythm disturbances;
myasthenia gravis;
urolithiasis due to metabolic disorders of magnesium, calcium and plutonyl ammonium phosphate;
complete or partial interruption of the impulse emanating from the atria to the ventricles;
serious functional failures in the kidneys;
hypermagnesemia (magnesium concentrations in the blood are higher than normal);
cardiogenic shock (if systolic blood pressure in adults does not exceed 90 mm Hg);
coma of unknown etiology;
diabetes mellitus (decompensated form);
Addison's disease;
hypokalemia

The unobvious role of vitamin B6 in the prevention of cytokine storm during Covid-19

The role of vitamin B6 in maintaining the immune response against the new coronavirus infection is considered not obvious to nutritional researchers.

The focus of research in nutritional science is predominantly on the positive and widely discussed properties of vitamin D and C, as well as minerals such as zinc and magnesium, in the formation of immunity, including Covid-19. However, there is virtually no research on vitamin B6. The lead author of a new paper from the journal Frontiers in Nutrition hopes his work will be an important first step in unlocking the potential of vitamin B6 to reduce the likelihood of cytokine storm.

“In addition to basic hygiene measures, proper nutrition is also the first line of prevention against coronavirus infection. Food is our first medicine, and the kitchen is our first pharmacy,” says Associate Professor at Hiroshima University’s Graduate School of Integrated Sciences, Thanutchaporn Kumrungsee.

The team points to growing evidence that vitamin B6 has a protective effect against many chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes, by suppressing inflammation, oxidative stress, and carbonyl stress.

Vitamin B6 is the collective name for water-soluble derivatives of 3-hydroxy-2-methylpyridines that have the biological activity of pyridoxine. Among plant foods, it is found in bananas, pitaya, sweet potatoes and hazelnuts. Pyridoxine is synthesized by some bacteria. Tuna and salmon are high in vitamin B6. It is also present in meat and dairy products, but it is less resistant to high temperatures than other forms of vitamin B, so it is low in boiled and fried meat products.

Coronavirus and influenza are viral infections that can cause fatal lung injury and death through acute respiratory distress syndrome. Cytokine storm leads to inflammation of the capillary endothelium of the lungs, infiltration of neutrophils and increased oxidative stress. In turn, hyperinflammation (in the form of a cytokine storm) and thrombosis are directly related to the severity of Covid-19. Vitamin B6 has both anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic effects. A deficiency of this compound is associated with a decrease in the functional abilities of the immune system and an increase in susceptibility to viral infections.

In the future, researchers from Hiroshima University plan to test the hypothesis in clinical trials.

Source: https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2020.562051

Advantages of analogues

Since the price of Magnerot tablets is relatively higher, the low cost is an undeniable advantage of analogues. This is due to the fact that the manufacturer does not spend money on development and clinical trials. Other aspects can also affect the price - the prestige of the company, the quality of packaging, etc.

In addition, the likelihood of purchasing a counterfeit analogue of Magnerot is minimized. If products are counterfeited, it is in very rare cases, and the therapeutic effect corresponds to the original product.

Comparison of side effects of Magnerot and Magnemax

Side effects or adverse events are any adverse medical event that occurs in a subject after administration of a drug.

Magnerot's side effects are almost the same as Magnemax's. They both have few side effects. This implies that the frequency of their occurrence is low, that is, the indicator of how many cases of an undesirable effect of treatment are possible and registered is low. The undesirable effect on the body, the strength of influence and the toxic effect of Magnerot are similar to Magnemax: how quickly the body recovers after taking it and whether it recovers at all.