Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The Effects of Magnesium, l-Carnitine, and Concurrent Magnesium–l-Carnitine Supplementation in Migraine Prophylaxis

  • Published:
Biological Trace Element Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Given the conflicting results about the positive effects of magnesium and l-carnitine and as there is no report concerning concurrent supplementation of magnesium and l-carnitine on migraine prophylaxis, the effects of magnesium, l-carnitine, and concurrent magnesium–l-carnitine supplementation on migraine indicators were assessed. In this clinical trial, 133 migrainous patients were randomly assigned into three intervention groups: magnesium oxide (500 mg/day), l-carnitine (500 mg/day), and Mg–l-carnitine (500 mg/day magnesium and 500 mg/day l-carnitine), and a control group. After 12 weeks of supplementation, the checklist of migraine indicators including migraine attacks/month, migraine days/month, and headache severity was completed, and serum concentrations of magnesium and l-carnitine were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and enzymatic UV test, respectively. The results showed a significant reduction in all migraine indicators in all studied groups (p < 0.05). The ANOVA results showed a significant reduction in migraine frequency across various supplemented and control groups (p = 0.008). By separating the effects of magnesium supplementation from other confounding factors such as routine treatments using the repeated measures and nested model, it was clarified that magnesium supplementation had a significant effect on all migraine indicators. Oral supplementation with magnesium oxide and l-carnitine and concurrent supplementation of Mg–l-carnitine besides routine treatments could be effective in migraine prophylaxis; however, larger trials are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Silberstein SD (2004) Migraine. Lancet 363:381–391

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. World Health Organization. 2001. The world health report. Mental health: new understanding, new hope. Geneva: World Health Organization

  3. Jensen R, Stover LJ (2008) Epidemiology and comorbidity of headache. Lancet Neurol 7:354–361

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Geraud G, Lanteri-Mint M, Lucas C, Valade D (2004) French guidelines for the diagnosis and management of migraine in adults and children. Clin Ther 26:305–318

    Google Scholar 

  5. Kaniecki R (2004) Headache assessment and management. JAMA 11:1430–1433

    Google Scholar 

  6. Lyngberg AC, Rasmussen BK, Jørgensen T, Jensen R (2005) Has the prevalence of migraine and tension type headache changed over a 12-year period? A Danish population survey. Eur J Epidio 20:243–249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Ayatollahi SM, Khosravi A (2006) Prevalence of migraine and tension-type headache in primary-school children in Shiraz. East Mediterr Health J 12:809–817

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Ayatollahi SM, Moradi F, Ayatollahi SA (2002) Prevalence of migraine and tension-type headache in adolescent girls of Shiraz (southern Iran). Headache 42:187–190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Gallai V, Sarchielli P, Abbritti G (1993) Red blood cell magnesium levels in migraine patients. Cephalalgia 13:94–98

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Soriani S, Arnaldi C, De Carlo L, Acudi D, Mazzotta D, Battitella PA, Sartori S, Abbasciano V (1995) Serum and red blood cell magnesium levels in juvenile migraine patients. Headache 35:14–16

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Gallai V, Sarchielli P, Coata G, Firenze C, Morucci AG (1992) Serum and salivary magnesium levels in migraine. Results in a group of juvenile patients. Headache 32:132–135

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Welch KM, Ramadan NM (1995) Mitochondria, magnesium and migraine. J Neurol Sci 134:9–14

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Peikert A, Wilimzig C, Köhne-Volland F (1996) Prophylaxis of migraine with oral magnesium: results from a prospective, multi-center, placebo-controlled and double-blind randomized study. Cephalalgia 16:257–263

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Demirkaya S, Vural O, Dora B, Topcuoglu MA (2001) Efficacy of intravenous magnesium sulphate in the treatment of acute migraine attacks. Headache 41:171–177

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Wanic-Kossowska M (1997) Protective role of carnitine in acetate metabolism of patients with uremia treated by hemodialysis. Pol Arch Med Wewn 97:534–540

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Kabbouche MA, Powers SW, Vockell A-LB, LeCates SL, Hershey AD (2002) Carnitine palmityltransferase II (CPT2) deficiency and migraine headache: two case reports. Headache 43:490–495

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Sparaco M, Feleppa M, Lipton RB, Rapoport AM, Bigal ME (2005) Mitochondrial dysfunction and migraine: evidence and hypotheses. Cephalalgia 26:361–372

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Montagna P, Cortell P, Barbiroli B (1994) Magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies in migraine. Cephalalgia 14:184–193

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Lipton RB, Stewart WF (1998) Migraine headaches: epidemiology and comorbidity. Clin Neurosci 5:2–9

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. International Headache Society (1988) Classification and diagnostic criteria for headache disorders, cranial neuralgias, and facial pain. Cephalalgia 8(Suppl 7):1–96

    Google Scholar 

  21. Dawson JB, Heaton FW (1961) The determination of magnesium in biological materials by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Biochem J 80:99–106

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Roche. 1999. L-Carnitine enzymatic UV test for the determination of L-carnitine in research samples from seminal plasma, serum or urine. Cat. No. 1 242 008

  23. Facchinetti F, Sances G, Borella P, Genazzani AR, Nappi G (1991) Magnesium prophylaxis of menstrual migraine: effects on intracellular magnesium. Headache 31:298–301

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Taubert K (1994) Magnesium in migraine: results of a multicentre pilot study. Fortschr Med 112:328–330

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Pfaffenrath V, Wessely P, Meyer C, Isler HR, Evers S, Grotemeyer KH, Taner Z, Soycal D, G’bell H, Fischer M (1996) Magnesium in the prophylaxis of migraine—a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Cephalalgia 16:436–440

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Maizels M, Blumenfeld A, Burchette RA (2004) Combination of riboflavin, magnesium, and feverfew for migraine prophylaxis: a randomized trial. Headache 44:885–890

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Mauskop A, Altura BT, Cracco RQ, Altura BM (1995) Intravenous magnesium sulfate relieves acute migraine in patients with low serum ionized magnesium levels: a pilot study. Clin Sci 89:633–636

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Schoenen J, Sianard-Gainko J, Lenaerts M (1991) Blood magnesium level in migraine. Cephalalgia 11:97–99

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Sarchielli P, Coata G, Firenze C, Morucci P, Abbritti G, Gallai V (1992) Serum and salivary magnesium levels in migraine and tension-type headache. Results in group of adult patients. Cephalalgia 12:21–27

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Trauninger A, Pfund Z, Koszegi T, Czopf J (2002) Oral magnesium load test in patients with migraine. Headache 42:114–119

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Mukherjee S, Bhattacharya G, Mukherajee A (2005) Serum magnesium levels in migraine—clinical and electrophysiological correlations. Poster abstracts 11:S487–S488

    Google Scholar 

  32. Okada H, Araga S, Takeshima T, Nakashima K (1998) Plasma lactic acid and pyruvic acid levels in migraine and tension type headache. Headache 38:39–42

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Knapp AC, Todesco L, Beier K (2008) Toxicity of valproic acid in mice with decreased plasma and tissue carnitine stores. J Pharmacol Exp 324:568–575

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Uncini A, Lodi R, DiMuzio A, Silvestri G, Servidei S, Lugaresi A, Iotti S, Zaniol P, Barbiroli B (1995) Abnormal brain and muscle energy metabolism shown by 31P-MRS in familial hemiplegic migraine. J Neurol Sci 129:214–222

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Montagna P, Lodi R, Cortelli P, Pierangeli G, Iotti S, Cevoli S, Zaniol P, Barbiroli B (1997) Phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy in cluster headache. Neurology 48:113–118

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Lodi R, Iotti S, Cortelli P, Pierangeli G, Cevoli S, Clementi V, Soriani S, Montagna P, Barbiroli B (1997) Deficit of brain and skeletal muscle bioenergetics and low brain magnesium in juvenile migraine: an in vivo 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy interictal study. Brain Res Bull 42:866–871

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the Drug Applied Research Center (DARC) and the Research Vice-Chancellor of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences for their financial supports and all the patients who participated in this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health and Nutrition Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Golgasht St., Attar Neishaboori Ave, Tabriz, Iran

    Ali Tarighat Esfanjani, Reza Mahdavi, Mehrangiz Ebrahimi Mameghani & Abdolrasool Safaiyan

  2. Drug Applied Research Center (DARC), Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Golgasht St., Attar Neishaboori Ave, Tabriz, Iran

    Reza Mahdavi

  3. Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Golgasht St., Attar Neishaboori Ave, Tabriz, Iran

    Mahnaz Talebi

  4. Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Golgasht St., Attar Neishaboori Ave, Tabriz, Iran

    Zeinab Nikniaz

Authors
  1. Ali Tarighat Esfanjani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Reza Mahdavi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mehrangiz Ebrahimi Mameghani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mahnaz Talebi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Zeinab Nikniaz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Abdolrasool Safaiyan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Reza Mahdavi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tarighat Esfanjani, A., Mahdavi, R., Ebrahimi Mameghani, M. et al. The Effects of Magnesium, l-Carnitine, and Concurrent Magnesium–l-Carnitine Supplementation in Migraine Prophylaxis. Biol Trace Elem Res 150, 42–48 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-012-9487-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-012-9487-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation