Magnesium for headaches - Magnesium for migraines

Oct 2, 2014 Home › Magnesium deficiency diseases › Low magnesium levels › Magnesium for migraine headaches

Magnesium deficiency in blood serum is associated with migraine pathogenesis.

Advertisements

Magnesium supplementation appears to reduce the frequency of headache attacks. The basic cause of migraine is still not clear. It has been observed that initially there is constriction of blood vessels and reduction of blood supply to the brain. This is followed by their dilation and increased flow leading to throbbing headache.

Magnesium is an essential mineral required by the human body for hundreds of enzymatic reactions. People with low Mg²⁺ serum levels have more frequent headache attacks. It also appears that there is genetic predisposition as the disorder is found to runs in families. Women are more likely to get migraine than men. When the Mg²⁺ is boosted by supplementation of the mineral the severity and frequency of the episodes decrease. In one study, there was nearly 50% reduction in the frequency of attacks when magnesium supplements were taken.

Lack of magnesium affects and influences the synthesis and release of various of neurotransmitters. Impaired neurotransmission may be one of the causes of these headache symptoms. Deficiency of Mg²⁺ affect serotonin receptor function, nitric oxide synthesis and release, NMDA receptors and other migraine headache related receptors and neurotransmitters.

Magnesium nutrition | Causes of malnutrition | Pellagra symptoms | Pellagra treatment | Beriberi disease | Unsaturated fatty acid definition | Unsaturated fats examples

Apart from pain, the affected person may experience visual disturbances, numbness, irritability, dullness, weakness and tingling sensation. Many triggering factors have been identified. Certain foods, such as chocolate, dairy products, nuts, pickles, and peanut butter may trigger migraine headache attacks. Every migraine patient has his or her own list of foods which trigger headaches.

Triggers

Hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy, periods and menopause may trigger these headaches. Environmental factors like weather changes, altitude changes, heat, humidity, bright light, smoke and loud noise affect some patients.

Nutritional deficiency diseases | Carbohydrate Deficiency Diseases | Fat deficiency diseases | Protein deficiency diseases | Mineral deficiency diseases | Magnesium health benefits

Certain habits like consuming alcohol, caffeine drinks, skipping meals and smoking may trigger attacks. Physical and mental stress, insufficient sleep, too much sleep, emotional episodes may also affect persons prone to migraine headaches.

Food sources and supplementation

Green leafy vegetables, soybean products, bananas, avocados, whole grains, and most of nuts and seeds are rich in magnesium. The green chlorophyll in the leaves contains magnesium. Supplements of the mineral are available both in oral and injection forms. Though normally magnesium does not have side effects, high doses may cause diarrhea and abdominal cramping.

Zinc overdose symptoms | Selenium overdose | Zinc deficiency symptoms | Saturated fats definition | Eicosapentaenoic acid | Docosahexaenoic acid Krill DHA

In high doses it may also interfere with certain diuretics, anti-neoplastic drugs and antibiotics. Health provider may be consulted for arriving at the required dosage.

Treatment and management

There is no standard cure for these episodic headaches. Avoiding the triggers is the best course of action. For pain relief painkillers, beta-blockers, calcium-channel blockers, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, triptans and ergots are prescribed. Prevention or reduction in the frequency of migraine headache attacks can be achieved with Mg or riboflavin supplementation. For long term prevention of migraine headaches, foods rich in magnesium may consumed to boost serum magnesium levels.

Advertisements

Related topics in nutritional deficiency diseases:
Scurvy symptoms.
Sodium selenite.
Calcium health benefits.
Selenomethionine.
Calcium and magnesium relationship.
Selenium liquid.
Calcium nutrition.
Vitamin C vegetables.
Vitamin C synthesis.
Bright light therapy.
Vitamin deficiency diseases.

References:
1.Mauskop A, Varughese J. Why all migraine patients should be treated with magnesium. J Neural Transm. 2012 May;119(5):575-9.
2.Mauskop A, Altura BM. Role of magnesium in the pathogenesis and treatment of migraines. Clin Neurosci. 1998;5(1):24-7.
3.Sun-Edelstein C, Mauskop A. Role of magnesium in the pathogenesis and treatment of migraine. Expert Rev Neurother. 2009 Mar;9(3):369-79.

Interesting topics in nutritional deficiency diseases:
Hypomagnesemia symptoms.
Milk alkali syndrome.
Hypomagnesemia.
Calcium supplements side effects.
Hypermagnesemia symptoms.
Daily protein requirement.
Hypermagnesemia.
Calcium requirements.
Calcium homeostasis.
Osteoporosis definition.
Calcium overdose.

Current topic on nutritional deficiency diseases: Magnesium for migraine headaches.