About 17 percent of women and 5.5 percent of men suffer from recurring migraine headaches. In some people, migraines can cause stress, anxiety and may lead to debilitation and a decreased quality of life. Magnesium plays an important role in the brain, and magnesium deficiency has been implicated in the pathogenesis of migraine headaches.
Recommended Daily Allowance
Magnesium is an essential mineral. The Institutes of Medicine has set the recommended daily allowance, or RDA, at 320 mg for females 31 years of age and older and 420 mg for their male counterparts. Most Americans do not, however, reach the RDA of magnesium. Magnesium consumption is also on the decline. Deficiencies of magnesium are rare but can be induced by certain physiological conditions. Irritable bowel syndrome, gastrointestinal viruses, pancreatitis, kidney disease, heavy menstrual cycles and long-term use of diuretics can lead to decreases in magnesium.
Magnesium and Migraine Etiology
Low blood levels of magnesium have been observed in people with migraines. Research studies in the journals "Headache" and "Cephalagia" have shown promise in using magnesium to treat migraines. A randomized, place-controlled, double-blind randomized study published in "Cephalagia" showed that giving 600 mg of magnesium daily for 12 weeks decreased the frequency of migraine headaches. Patients needed less conventional medication and magnesium, overall, was effective in preventing migraines.
Magnesium deficiencies affect the brain's physiology and may directly promote migraines, according to a review article in the "Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics." Certain receptors in the brain related to migraines are directly affected by magnesium deficiencies. Additionally, the clumping of blood platelets contributes to migraines and can be caused by magnesium.
Side Effects of Excess Magnesium
According to Dr. Mary Guerrera of the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, magnesium supplementation may be able to offer relief for migraines. However, too much can lead to undesirable side effects. Diarrhea and stomach irritation can result from high doses of magnesium taken orally. Kidney disease is the most common cause of magnesium toxicity, and supplements containing magnesium should be limited or avoided.
Maintaining Adequate Magnesium
Eating a varied diet that includes magnesium-rich foods will prevent magnesium deficiency. Green, leafy vegetables, like mustard greens and collards, tea, nuts, beans and whole-grain breads are healthy dietary choices that contain high amounts of magnesium. If you experience the early symptoms of magnesium deficiency, such as fatigue, lethargy, loss of appetite and confusion, see a doctor to assess your magnesium status.
References
- "Journal of Nutrition"; Dietary Magnesium Intake in a National Sample of U.S. Adults; Earl Ford, et al; September 2003
- "Neurology"; Migraine Prevalence, Disease Burden, and the Need for Preventive Therapy; R.B. Lipton, et al; January 2007
- "American Family Physician"; Therapeutic Uses of Magnesium; Mary Guerrera, M.D., et al; July 2009
- "Headache"; Intravenous Magnesium Sulfate Relieves Cluster Headaches in Patients with Low Serum Ionized Magnesium Levels; A. Mauskop, et al; 1995
- "Cephalagia"; Prophylaxis of Migraine with Oral Magnesium Results From a Prospective, Multi-center, Place-controlled and Double-blind Randomized Study; A. Peikert, et al; 1996
- "Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics"; Role of Magnesium in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Migraine; C. Sun-Edelstein, et al; March 2009
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