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Chapter 8 - The role of magnesium in headache and migraine

from Section 2 - Magnesium in Neurological Diseases

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2012

Lisa A. Yablon
Affiliation:
The New York Headache Center, 30 East 76th Street, New York, NY 10021, USA
Alexander Mauskop
Affiliation:
The New York Headache Center, 30 East 76th Street, New York, NY 10021, USA
Robert Vink
Affiliation:
University of Adelaide
Mihai Nechifor
Affiliation:
University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania
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Summary

Abstract

Magnesium's role in migraine pathogenesis is well-described, with deficiencies known to promote cortical spreading depression, alter nociceptive processing, and neurotransmitter release and encourage the hyperaggregation of platelets, all major elements of migraine development. Research on magnesium has found it to be a potentially well-tolerated, safe and inexpensive option for migraine prevention, while it may also be effective as an acute treatment option for headaches including migraines, tension- type headaches and cluster headaches, particularly in certain patient subsets. This chapter will review the various aspects of migraine in which magnesium plays a part, as well as numerous studies on the use of magnesium in both headache prophylaxis and in the acute treatment of headaches, offering recommendations in its use in clinical practice.

Magnesium in the Body

Magnesium (Mg), the second most abundant intracellular divalent cation, is a cofactor of many enzymes and is involved in a plethora of cellular functions. It plays a central role in both glucose metabolism and in ATP function. Over 300 enzymes require the presence of magnesium ions for their catalytic action, including all enzymes utilizing or synthesizing ATP, or those that use other nucleotides to synthesize DNA and RNA. ATP exists in cells as a chelate of ATP and a magnesium ion.

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Publisher: The University of Adelaide Press
Print publication year: 2011

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