Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Serum Magnesium Levels in Children With and Without Migraine: A Cross-Sectional Study

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Indian Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To study the association between serum magnesium level and migraine in children.

Methods

This cross-sectional study enrolled children aged 5–18 years diagnosed with migraine, and age- and sex-matched controls without a headache disorder. International Classification of Headache Disorders 3 (ICHD-3) was used for the diagnosis of migraine. The association between serum magnesium level and migraine headache was analyzed.

Results

A total of 35 children with migraine were enrolled with 35 control subjects. The median (IQR) serum magnesium levels were comparable among children with migraine and controls [2.0 (2.0,2.1) vs 2.2 (1.9, 2.2) mg/dL; P=0.23], respectively. In adolescent subgroup, median (IQR) serum magnesium levels were significantly low among the children with migraine as compared to those without migraine [2.0 (1.9, 2.1) vs 2.2 (2.0, 2.2 mg/dL); P<0.045].

Conclusion

We found a statistically significant association between low serum magnesium levels and the occurrence of migraine in adolescents, which may have treatment implications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Tarasco V, Grasso G, Versace A, et al. Epidemiological and clinical features of migraine in the pediatric population of Northern Italy. Cephalalgia. 2016; 36:510–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (IHS) The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition. Cephalalgia. 2018;38:1–211.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Dolati S, Rikhtegar R, Mehdizadeh A, Yousefi M. The Role of Magnesium in Pathophysiology and Migraine Treatment. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2020;196:375–383.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Bussone G. Pathophysiology of migraine. Neurol Sci. 2004;25:S239–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Samaie A, Asghari N, Ghorbani R, Arda J. Blood Magnesium levels in migraineurs within and between the headache attacks: a case control study. Pan Afr Med J. 2012;11:46.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Kroon Van Diest AM, Ernst MM, Slater S, Powers SW. Similarities and differences between migraine in children and adults: Presentation, disability, and response to treatment. Curr Pain Headache. 2017;21:48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Hershey AD. Current approaches to the diagnosis and management of paediatric migraine. Lancet Neurol. 2010; 9:190–204.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Jackson JL. Pediatric migraine headache — Still searching for effective treatments. N Engl J Med. 2017; 376:169–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Abu-Arafeh I, Valeriani M, Prabhakar P. Headache in children and adolescents: A focus on uncommon headache disorders. Indian Pediatr. 2021;58:757–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Khadilkar, V., Yadav, S., Agrawal, K.K., et al. Revised IAP growth charts for height, weight and body mass index for 5- to 18-year-old Indian children. Indian Pediatr. 2015; 52:47–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Mauskop A, Altura BT, Altura BM. Serum ionized magnesium levels and serum ionized calcium/ionized magnesium ratios in women with menstrual migraine. Headache. 2002;42:242–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Böttcher B, Kyprianou A, Lechner C, et al. Manifestation of migraine in adolescents: Does it change in puberty? Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2020; 26:29–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Miller AC, K Pfeffer B, Lawson MR, et al. Intravenous magnesium sulfate to treat acute headaches in the emergency department: A systematic review. Headache. 2019;59:1674–686.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Khani S, Hejazi SA, Yaghoubi M, Sharifipour E. Comparative study of magnesium, sodium valproate, and concurrent magnesium-sodium valproate therapy in the prevention of migraine headaches: A randomized controlled double-blind trial. J Headache Pain. 2021;22:21.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Wang F, Van Den Eeden SK, Ackerson LM, et al. Oral magnesium oxide prophylaxis of frequent migrainous headache in children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Headache. 2003;43:601–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

Funding: None; Competing interest: None stated.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

Contributors: RB: study design, acquisition, analysis, drafting; SP: study design, analysis, interpretation and drafting; RKM: study design, interpretation, revising it critically. Final approval of the version and agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved by all the contributing authors.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sarala Premkumar.

Ethics declarations

Ethics clearance: IEC Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research; No. CSP-MED/18 JUN/44/104 dated June 23, 2018.

Additional information

Note: Additional material related to this study is available with the online version at https://www.indianpediatrics.net.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bhurat, R., Premkumar, S. & Manokaran, R.K. Serum Magnesium Levels in Children With and Without Migraine: A Cross-Sectional Study. Indian Pediatr 59, 623–625 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-022-2576-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-022-2576-4

Keywords

Navigation