The Relationship Between Blood and Salivary Mg Levels and Occurrence of Pain and Anxiety-Depression in Migraine Patients

Abstract

Background: The possible role of magnesium (Mg) on migraine pathophysiology has been the subject of many studies. Low levels of Mg is known to be an important factor in pain formation. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between blood and salivary Mg levels and occurrence of pain and anxietydepression scale score in migraine patients. Method: 40 migraine patients were diagnosed according to IHS classification 1988 and 30 control subjects with no pain symptoms were included in this study. Mg levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrometer. Findings: Salivary Mg levels were lower in patient group during both initial and attack periods, but this finding was not related to pain characteristics. The initial and attack blood Mg levels were lower prominently in patients with a long history of disease. A direct relationship between hypomagnesemia duration and severity of pain was observed. Hypomagnesemia was significant in patients who had higher anxietydepression scale score than controls and the other migraine sufferers. Conclusion: These results showed that Mg replacement therapy can be an alternative in migraine prophylaxis.