Bindu Sundar 1 , Assalatha G2 , Sahila M3 , Thomas Iype
BACKGROUND Magnesium has been implicated as a key molecule in several mechanisms of migraine pathogenesis. Central neuronal hyperexcitability is suggested to be the pivotal physiological disturbance predisposing to migraine. In this study, the role of serum magnesium in defining the physiologic threshold for migraine and modulating the various mechanisms of migraine genesis was searched for. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study enrolled adult migraine patients of age 18 to 40 years (41 females and 29 males) with and without aura and healthy controls of the same age group. Serum magnesium levels measured in the interictal period (between attacks) in cases were compared with the results from controls. Serum calcium levels were also measured and compared in both groups. Design- Case-control study. RESULTS Serum magnesium was found to be significantly low among cases with migraine compared to controls. Serum magnesium levels showed inverse correlation with frequency of migraine attacks, implying the role of a decreased serum magnesium level in defining the susceptibility to migraine. Results also showed an association between serum magnesium and calcium levels. Serum calcium was found to be low when serum magnesium was low. CONCLUSION Magnesium has a fundamental role in establishing the threshold for migraine headaches
