Blood Magnesium levels in migraineurs within and between the headache attacks: a case control study

INTRODUCTION: Some probable mechanisms have been described to the relationship between magnesium (Mg) level and migraine headache attacks. In the study reported here, we sought to determine the total Mg serum status of patients with migraine within and between the headache attacks and compare it with non-migraineurs. METHODS: This study was performed on 50 migraineurs patients diagnosed according to the International Headache Society (IHS) criteria for acute migraine headache. Fifty healthy subjects without any family history or evidences of migraine were randomly selected from hospital personnel as the control group. Serum Mg level was measured by Xylidyl blue method. RESULTS: In the group with migraine headache, no significant difference was found in the serum total Mg levels within and between migraine headache attacks (1.86 ± 0.41 mg/dl versus 1.95 ± 0.35 mg/dl, p = 0.224). But, serum total Mg level was notably lower in the group with these attacks compared to the control group (1.86 ± 0.41 mg/dl versus 2.10 ± 0.23 mg/dl, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Serum Mg level is on average significantly reduced in patients with migraine compared to the healthy group. However, the serum total Mg levels in migraineurs remained constant within and between migraine headache attacks.