Are Migraine Headaches a Symptom of a Magnesium Deficiency?

The link between magnesium (mg) deficiency and migraine headaches has been established through a large number of clinical studies as noted below: 

• Mg therapy has been shown to be effective in treating migraines. 
  
  
• Intravenous magnesium sulfate therapy has been shown to provide immediate relief from migraines headaches.  
  
  
• In a study in France, migraine patients were been shown to have significantly lower erythrocyte magnesium levels than controls.  (Serum magnesium levels in this study did not significantly differ.) The authors of the French study noted that previous studies had shown that migraine patients were shown to benefit from Mg water. 
  
  
• Patients suffering from migraines were found to be twice as likely to have mitral valve prolapse than controls.  This association between migraines and mitral valve prolapse has been noted in quite a few studies on Pubmed.  This is not surprising, since people with mitral valve prolapse have also been shown to often be low in magnesium and to benefit from Mg supplementation.  
  
  
• Associations have been noted between anxiety disorders and migraines.  Anxiety disorders also have a close link to magnesium deficiencies. 
  
  
• The Grand Forks Human Nutrition Center, a part of the USDAs Agricultural Research Service, reports that, studies show that around half of all the people who suffer from migraine headaches have a low amount of ionized magnesium in their blood, suggesting a low magnesium status. The researchers go on to report that supplementation reduces both the duration and total number of migraines, including premenstrual migraine headaches.
  
  
• A study from Harvard Medical School found that migraine sufferers 'have increased risk of heart attacks and strokes'. Yet other studies have found that magnesium may help to prevent death from heart attacks. So perhaps instead of concluding that migraine sufferers have an increased risk of strokes, a more logical and holistic way of looking at these types of studies would be to hypothesize that people with inadequate magnesium levels are at higher risk for migraine headaches, heart attacks and strokes. Part of the reason for this common link may be that Mg is known for relaxing and dilating blood vessels.

Associations between migraines, mitral valve prolapse and epileptic seizures have been noted.  Epileptic seizures can be caused by Mg deficiencies. 

"Despite the number of clinical studies that show magnesium supplementation (as well as elimination of food allergies) is effective in many cases, most physicians choose to prescribe drugs that usually have only moderate benefits and significant side effects." Michael Murray, writing in Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements on the topic of Migraine and Tension Headaches

Women often experience menstrual migraines, migraine headaches that start before or during their periods. Perhaps not coincidentally, other studies have noted that right before menstruation is also a time when magnesium levels in women tend to dip.

If you look at the chart below, many of the the symptoms of magnesium deficiency are identical to the conditions linked to migraine headaches. Interestingly, alcohol can deplete magnesium and many of the symptoms of hangovers are the same as the symptoms linked to magnesium deficiency and migraine headaches.

Exploring the Magnesium - Migraine Link

Based on the evidence, it would be highly logical to consider that a diet high in magnesium rich foods would be beneficial in the treatment and prevention of migraine headaches, especially menstrual migraines.

Related Pages in This Site:

Menstrual Migraines

Migraine Headaches - explores overlooked causes.

Cause of Migraines -- my hypothesis that ties together many of the seemingly unrelated conditions - TMJ, fibromyalgia, numbness in arms, nausea, eye pain and more.

Noise Sensitivity / Sensitive Hearing - Explores the links between a lack of magnesium in the diet and noise sensitivity.

Magnesium Deficiency - Part I - covers allergies, chemical sensitivities, anxiety and psychiatric disorders, aorta strength, asthma, attention deficit disorder and calcification of soft tissue. - Part II - covers fibromyalgia, hearing loss, hypercalciuria, keratoconus, migraines, mitral valve prolapse, muscle contractions and cramps, myopia, nystagmus, osteoporosis and osteopenia, premature birth, skeletal deformities, scar formation, seizures, and TMJ.

Food and Other Factors Associated With Migraines - loud noises, stress, certain foods can lead to migraines and these triggers are all very similar, if not identical, to the factors that can cause a magnesium deficiency.

Low Levels of Magnesium - are deficits of this important mineral more common in women?

Mitral Valve Prolapse - Can diet changes help?

Fibromyalgia Diet - diet changes to reduce muscle tension.

Eye floaters - the links to muscular tension.

Menstrual Cramps

Diet Changes for Dry Mouth, Anxiety, Migraines, Palpitations and Nausea

Relates Sites:

Migaine Headache Resource Center (v)

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