Magnesium, Migraines and Arrhythmias
Magnesium is a crucial mineral that serves as a cofactor in over 300 biochemical reactions, including those related to nerve and muscle function, as well as relaxation. There has been a hypothesized connection between magnesium deficiency and migraines. In a study conducted by Khani (2021), researchers investigated whether combining magnesium oxide with sodium valproate, a common migraine prescription drug, would be more effective as a migraine prophylaxis than either sodium valproate or magnesium alone. The study involved 260 migraine sufferers between the ages of 18 and 65. They were randomly assigned to one of three groups: sodium valproate, magnesium, or a combination of the two. After three months, the participants were evaluated for headache frequency, severity, duration, and the number of painkillers taken. While all groups showed improvement compared to the baseline, the combination therapy group exhibited the most significant improvement at the three-month mark, while the magnesium-only group showed the least improvement (1). These results are promising, particularly because magnesium oxide is the cheapest and least absorbed form of magnesium. If this form demonstrates efficacy, it raises hope for other forms such as magnesium citrate, glycinate, threonate, and more.
Additionally, a double-blind placebo-controlled study by Rasmussen et al. in 1987 explored the link between hypomagnesemia (low blood serum levels of magnesium) and heart arrhythmias. The study involved 130 in-hospital patients who had recently experienced acute myocardial infarction. Over a 7-day period, half of the patients received an elemental magnesium chloride blood infusion, while the other half received a placebo infusion, and their heart activity was closely monitored. The results indicated that the group receiving magnesium experienced only 5% of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias, compared to 24% in the placebo group. The incidence of bradyarrhythmias was also significantly reduced in the magnesium group (4% vs. 10% in the placebo group). Overall, the magnesium group exhibited an incidence of arrhythmias requiring treatment at 21%, while the placebo group had 47% (2).
These findings are quite remarkable, and though the study is older, it deserves discussion because it utilized magnesium infusion, unlike many other studies that primarily use a low-grade magnesium oxide pill. This difference in administration method might be a significant factor contributing to the compelling results observed in this study. It is possible that the lack of compelling results in some other studies might be due to the use of a cheap, low-absorption form of magnesium.
Resources:
1. Khani, S., Hejazi, S. A., Yaghoubi, M., & Sharifipour, E. (2021). Comparative study of magnesium, sodium valproate, and concurrent magnesium-sodium valproate therapy in the prevention of migraine headaches: a randomized controlled double-blind trial. The Journal of Headache and Pain, 22(1), 21. https://uws.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=mdc&AN=33827421&site=eds-live&scope=site
2. Rasmussen, H. S., Suenson, M., McNair, P., Nørregård, P., & Balslev, S. (1987). Magnesium infusion reduces the incidence of arrhythmias in acute myocardial infarction. A double-blind placebo-controlled study. Clinical Cardiology, 10(6), 351–356. https://uws.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=mdc&AN=3297445&site=eds-live&scope=site
