Does Anyone Here Suffer From Migraines?

Post by **tex** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 4:23 pm

Hi All,

While researching my own situation with apparent magnesium deficiency, I came across some research recommendations that may be beneficial to others suffering from migraines.

The available evidence suggests that up to 50% of patients during an acute migraine attack have lowered levels of ionized magnesium. Infusion of magnesium results in a rapid and sustained relief of an acute migraine in such patients. Two double-blind studies suggest that chronic oral magnesium supplementation may also reduce the frequency of migraine headaches. Because of an excellent safety profile and low cost and despite the lack of definitive studies, we feel that a trial of oral magnesium supplementation can be recommended to a majority of migraine sufferers. Refractory patients can sometimes benefit from intravenous infusions of magnesium sulfate.

http://www.mgwater.com/migraine.shtml

According to research, magnesium deficiency is widespread. Why our doctors don't nag us about this, is beyond me, since it can lead to all sorts of dire consequences, including heart damage, neurological issues, etc.

http://www.mbschachter.com/importance_o ... _human.htm

This may be especially important for us, since magnesium deficiency creates a systemic pro-inflammatory state:

Interpretive Summary: Magnesium deficiency can increase the amount of inflammation in the body. Ischemia, or lack of oxygen, is a common occurrence anytime blood flow to an organ or tissue is blocked, and when blood flow (and oxygen) is returned (called reperfusion) to the organ or tissue, damage can result. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of magnesium deficiency on the response to ischemia reperfusion. Rats were placed on control or magnesium deficient diets for 1 or 3 weeks and then the blood flow to the intestine was stopped for 30 minutes and then restored in half of the rats. Magnesium deficiency further increases inflammation in the intestine resulting from ischemia reperfusion. Increased inflammation was seen in the magnesium deficient rat that was associated with changes in expression of specific genes in the intestine. Giving the deficient rats supplemental magnesium did not change the effects of the deficiency alone, but reduced the inflammatory responses to ischemia and reperfusion. These studies are important to acute care practitioners. Future studies will examine the role of diets rich in magnesium on inflammatory responses to trauma.

http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/public ... 115=201405

Magnesium may be the next "vitamin D". According to research, 61% of the US population does not meet the US RDA for levels of magnesium. I intend to get my magnesium levels up to where they should be, (hopefully before something else happens.

).

Tex

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 5:38 am

I'm glad you are, Tex.

For several years I have taken Thorne Potassium-Magnesium Aspartate (mag. 70 mg, Pot. 99 mg).
I take one daily. I started taking them for cramps in my toes and feet. In fact, for several years before I started on the mix, I was taking just potassium (finally got up to 2 99 mg tabs a day) but with the mix just one capsule does fine.

I'm not really sure if it's free of all the "problem ingredients".
Other than the Potassium and Magnesium the following "other ingredients are listed on the bottle:
Hypromellose (derived from cellulose) capsule.
May contain one or more of the following hypoallergenic ingredients to fill space - Leucine, Silicon Dioxide

I have no idea if that is enough Magnesium to accomplish your goal, but it did make me feel better to know that I have been getting some at least.

I know you will continue your research on this and I am looking forward to your posts about the subject.

Love, Shirley

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 5:51 am

I am a purist. IMHO it's best to get nutrients from our food. Here are some magnesium sources:

Halibut 3 oz, 90 mg
Almonds, 1 oz, 80 mg
Cashews, 1 oz, 75 mg
Cooked spinach, 1/2 cup, 75 mg
Mixed nuts, 1 oz, 65 mg
Baked potato with skin, medium, 50 mg
Brown rice, 1/2 cup, 40 mg
Banana, medium, 30 mg

If you can tolerate nuts, eating a handful every day can give you a nice boost on magnesium, plus the benefits of other nutrients.

Mary Beth

Post by **tex** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 1:18 pm

Shirley,

My multivitamin contains only 50 mg of magnesium. My diet is short by probably around roughly 250 mg. It's tough to claim exact numbers, because everyone knows that caffeine and vitamin D deplete magnesium, but no one ever presents any actual numbers or percentages to even estimate the depletion potential.

Mary Beth,

I hear you, but here's the problem - I have digestive distress if I eat nuts of pretty much any persuasion. Spinach and the other veggies high in magnesium don't seem to sit real well, either. If you were to go to a store in my neck of the woods, and ask for Halibut, all you would get is a blank stare. LOL. I don't recall ever seeing it. Besides, I can't eat halibut every day, even if I could find it, (which I'm sure I could, if I went to some of the bigger cities to shop for it), so that would only be helpful on certain days, and I need a big boost, not a small one, and I need one every day.

I do eat the heck out of taters, (but never the skin, since that is where the solanine will be found, if/when it is present), and I eat white or brown rice somewhat regularly. I also eat the heck out of bananas, but with such a limited selection, one is not going to reliably get 420 mg daily, unless those are just about the only foods eaten.

If the magnesium tablets don't seem to work well, I reckon I'll have to force myself to eat nuts or something, and just tolerate the abdominal distress. It's not really all that bad, it just seems counterproductive to eat something that doesn't digest well.

Tex

hazel · Post by **hazel** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 5:15 pm

I also have migraines occasionally. Lately I have been having the aura/zig zags/neon lights in my eyes but not getting the headache (happily!). What did you say that was called, Tex?

Post by **tex** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 6:21 pm

Hi Kathy,

It's called an acephalgic migraine, I believe. As far as I can tell, it's the best kind to have.

Tex

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 7:35 pm

I'm with Tex. I would love to get most of my nutrients from the foods I eat, but am unable to eat any of the foods on Mary Beth's list besides the baked potato and brown rice .

Maybe someday we will be able to get all the nutrition we need from our foods again, but I haven't reached that point yet.

Gloria

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 6:13 am

Ok - I get it

, but I'm not giving up on you guys yet! How about: other green vegetables, avocado, shrimp, salmon, quinoa, oats, grapefruit, lemon, raisins, figs and CHOCOLATE. Eat the sources you can tolerate frequently and then supplement to make up the rest.

Mary Beth

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:00 am

Mary Beth,

Most celiac/GS folks have to avoid oats, too. (I'm sure you know that!). Thanks for the food ideas. I happen to love most of them. My special favorites are the leafy dark greens like kale, chard, rabe, turnip/mustard greens, etc. I also eat a small handful of tree nuts most days.

Another thought: if you have a well and drink "hard water" (which contains minerals, including magnesium), that can be another source.

Love,

Polly

Post by **tex** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 4:15 pm

Mary Beth,

I do eat some of those foods, but a number of them are off limits, (note the oats, (avenin), listed under my avatar - I even did an oat challenge, a couple of years ago, just to be impartial about it - it caused 6 weeks of D).

Polly,

Maybe that's where I'm getting my magnesium - from the water. I do drink well water, and lots of it, (especially as hot as it's been around here this year).

My blood test result was 2.0, (reference range 1.8 to 2.5 ng/dL). I don't believe that really means anything, though. With a range that narrow, obviously the body tightly regulates serum magnesium levels, despite possible low cellular reserves.

I took a 250 mg magnesium tablet at noon on Monday. Up until that point, (since my "event" on Sunday a week ago), I had been feeling weak, tired, and "off", every morning, upon arising. In fact, the last few days prior to that, (IOW, the last few days ending on Monday), I felt as though I were sort of "drugged" for most of the day. I can't really explain how I felt, it was downright cruddy, but I wasn't obviously sick.

By Tuesday morning, I was feeling normal again, and I felt the same this morning - no drugged feeling, no tiredness, or "off" feeling. Both my GP and the neurologist I went to see yesterday, told me that magnesium deficiency is nothing to be concerned about. Maybe not, but I sure feel better, now that I'm taking a supplement. I no longer feel "drugged", and my energy is back to normal levels in the morning.

Love,
Tex