Magnesium is an in-demand nutrient that is used by every organ in the body, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Among its many functions, magnesium tells muscles to relax, is used in the formation of bones and teeth, is part of several enzymes and helps regulate the levels of several other nutrients. Recent research has also revealed encouraging evidence for the use of magnesium in the treatment of migraines.
Migraine in Children
Magnesium supplementation effectively treats migraines in children, according to a study conducted by the Department of Neurology, Kaiser Permanente. In the study, published in the June 2003 "Headache" journal, children aged 3 to 17 years, with a history of at least weekly migraine headaches, received 9 mg per kg body weight of magnesium for 16 weeks. The treatment resulted in reduced duration and severity of the migraines and, noting the relative safety of magnesium as a treatment for migraine in children, the researchers called for further trials to confirm its effectiveness.
Migraine Without Aura
If you experience migraines without aura -- sensory disturbances of light or sound that may precede certain migraine headaches -- you may find relief with magnesium, according to a Turkish study conducted at Erciyes University's Neurology Department. Participants in the study were given 600 mg per day of magnesium citrate for three months. Migraine frequency and severity decreased significantly in the study, published in the June 2008 "Magnesium Research" journal. Electrical activity and blood flow to the brain also improved significantly, leading the researchers to conclude that magnesium affects migraines through vascular and neurologic mechanisms.
Light-sensitivity
Light sensitivity caused by magnesium deficiency may be the cause of migraines, in some individuals, according to a French study conducted at Université Pierre et Marie Curie. Visual stress tests and EEG readouts of brain function lend support to the concept of light-sensitive migraines, say the authors of the study, published in the June 2005 "Magnesium Research" journal, and magnesium deficiency has been linked with disruptions in the biological clock that cause light sensitivity. Citing research that shows that melatonin, the hormone involved in maintenance of the biological clock's day-night cycle, does not fully reverse light sensitivity, the researchers were optimistic about magnesium's potential as a treatment for light-sensitive migraines.
Prevention
Magnesium tops the list of recommended supplements for prevention of migraines for those wishing to avoid the side effects of prescription medications, according to a study conducted at The New York Headache Center and published in the June 2009 "The Clinical Journal of Pain." Along with targeted nutritional supplementation, the authors advocate identification and avoidance of food triggers as a first line of defense. Also included on the list of of useful preventative supplements were the herbs butterbur and feverfew, antioxidants coenzyme Q10 and lipoic acid and the B vitamin riboflavin.
References
- PubMed.gov: Oral magnesium oxide prophylaxis of frequent migrainous headache in children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
- PubMed.gov: The effects of magnesium prophylaxis in migraine without aura
- PubMed.gov: Headache due to photosensitive magnesium depletion.
- PubMed.gov: Foods and supplements in the management of migraine headaches
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