Serum ionized magnesium and calcium level in adult migraineurs during interictal period in comparison with control group

Nowadays, many studies consider a role for magnesium and calcium in pathophysiology and treatment of migraine. We evaluated serum ionized magnesium and calcium level in migraineurs -during interictal period- and control group. Migraineurs -according to the IHS criteria- enrolled in this study. Serum Mg²+ and Ca²+ level were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Mean values were compared, using t-test. 40 migraineurs and 40 healthy subjects (34 (85%) female and 6 (15%) male in each group) enrolled the study with mean age of 34.8±9.9 and 35.7±9.1 years, respectively. There were no significant difference between Mg²+ levels in cases vs. healthy subjects (1.55±0.27 vs. 1.55±0.29 meq/l) but serum Ca²+ level was lower in healthy subjects. (8.04±1.18 vs. 7.56±0.82 meq/l, P<0.05). Migraineurs without aura had lower serum Mg²+ level (1.56±0.26 vs. 1.76±0.24 meq/l) and higher serum Ca²+ level (8.10±1.23 vs. 7.64±0.65 meq/l) than with aura migraineurs. Migraineurs with "monthly attack rate ³ 4" had lower Mg²+ and Ca²+ level (1.48±0.23 vs. 1.58±0.29 meq/l) and (7.95±0.42 vs. 8.09±1.85 meq/l) than those with lower attack rate. Females whose attacks aggravated by menstruation had lower serum Mg²+ and Ca²+ level in comparison with those their attacks didn’t aggravate by menstruation (1.46±0.25 vs. 1.77±0.25 and 7.77±0.59 vs. 8.80±2.77, P<0.05). In our study, severity of migraine had correlation with reduced serum Mg²+ and higher Ca²+ level which confirms the role of reduced magnesium level on lowering the threshold of attacks. Also, lower Mg²+ and higher Ca²+ level in migraineurs without aura could exhibit a demonstrable calcium channelopathy, but also raises questions about possibility of different mechanisms for “with and without aura” migraine.�However, it seems that further studies with larger sample size and intra cellular (RBC and monocyte) Mg²+ assessment, is needed.