Magnesium effective for migraines

Posted on Sun, 29 Jul 12

A recent scientific review of magnesium for migraine headache concludes that all migraine sufferers should take magnesium supplements.

The review, published in the Journal of Neural Transmission, was produced by a team of doctors that run a specialist headache treatment clinic in New York. 

Key points from the review include:

• Magnesium deficiency is liked to several processes that may promote migraine headache including changes in vascular function and neurotransmitters.

• Migraine sufferers may develop magnesium deficiency due to excretion of excessive amounts of magnesium due to stress or low nutritional intake.

• There is strong evidence that magnesium deficiency is much more prevalent in migraine sufferers than people who do not get migraines.

• Double-blind, placebo-controlled trials have produced mixed results, most likely because both magnesium deficient and non-deficient people were included in these trials.

• Magnesium is extremely safe, inexpensive and for people who are magnesium deficient can be highly effective for migraine relief.

Typically doses are 300-600 mg per day of a well-absorbed form of magnesium like magnesium glycinate, which should be taken daily for at least 3 months.

Reference:

Mauskop A, Varughese J. Why all migraine patients should be treated with magnesium. J Neural Transm. 2012 May;119(5):575-9. Epub 2012 Mar 18. PubMed PMID: 22426836.