Magnesium for Migraines: Does It Really Help?

Key Findings

This review synthesizes evidence linking magnesium deficiency to migraine pathogenesis and evaluates supplementation efficacy. Key conclusions indicate magnesium deficiency contributes to migraine through mechanisms including cortical spreading depression, vascular dysregulation, oxidative stress, and neurotransmitter imbalances. The analysis confirms magnesium supplementation demonstrates therapeutic utility for both acute migraine attack management and prophylactic use, with consistent positive outcomes across multiple study designs. The authors assert magnesium represents a viable, evidence-supported intervention for migraine given its safety profile and biological plausibility.

Study Design

This is a narrative review article (misclassified as a clinical trial in the prompt), not a primary clinical study. It systematically evaluates existing literature including case reports, case-control studies, observational cohorts, and randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) published up to its 2025 publication date. As a review, it has no original sample size, intervention protocol, or study duration. The analysis encompasses global research without specifying demographic parameters of aggregated studies beyond general references to pediatric and adult populations.

Dosage & Administration

The review does not specify exact dosages or administration protocols from individual studies within its summary. It broadly references that "magnesium supplementation" was used across cited literature, typically involving oral formulations. No details on magnesium forms (e.g., oxide, glycinate), dosing schedules, or treatment duration are provided in the given study description.

Results & Efficacy

The review reports "accumulated evidence" supporting efficacy but provides no quantitative outcomes, effect sizes, or statistical metrics (e.g., p-values, confidence intervals) for specific interventions. It states magnesium supplementation alleviates migraines "both acutely and chronically" based on collective findings from heterogeneous studies. No numerical data on reduction in migraine frequency, severity, or duration is included in the provided summary.

Limitations

Major limitations stem from the review's nature: it synthesizes existing evidence without original data analysis, preventing assessment of statistical significance or effect magnitude. The summary lacks critical appraisal of individual study quality, risk of bias, or heterogeneity in methodologies across cited research. It does not address inconsistencies in magnesium formulations, dosing, or patient stratification (e.g., by baseline magnesium status). Future research needs highlighted include standardized dosing protocols, optimal magnesium forms, and biomarkers for patient selection.

Clinical Relevance

For supplement users, this review supports magnesium as a low-risk adjunct for migraine management, particularly where deficiency is suspected. However, the absence of specific dosing guidance in the review means users should consult healthcare providers to determine appropriate forms (e.g., 400–600 mg elemental magnesium daily in clinical practice) based on individual tolerance and deficiency status. It underscores magnesium's role in migraine pathophysiology but does not replace acute migraine medications. Users should prioritize medical evaluation to confirm migraine diagnosis and rule out other conditions before self-supplementing.