THE EFFICACY OF DIFFERENT ORAL MAGNESIUM SUPPLEMENTS FOR MIGRAINE PREVENTION: A LITERATURE REVIEW
Abstract: No study was
conducted to evaluate the efficacy of particular oral magnesium supplement over
another in preventing migraine. Different magnesium supplements have different
oral absorption and bioavailability. The objective was to identify the efficacy
of different oral magnesium supplements in migraine prophylaxis. A literature
review using MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane library, and EMBASE was conducted during
the period from November 1, 2015 until December 30, 2015. Keywords included
migraine, prophylaxis, and magnesium. Magnesium citrate was used as single oral
migraine prophylactic supplement in most of the published trials. Migraine
attack frequency and intensity were significantly lower in magnesium citrate
group compared to placebo with 41.6-64% and 43-59% reduction in migraine attack
frequency and severity frequently. Magnesium oxide was used in combination with
magnesium citrate in 2 randomized clinical trials (RCTs), and used alone in one
RCT in adults and children. No different in migraine frequency or severity
between Mg-oxide and placebo in RCT conducted in children while Only Mg-oxide
containing groups showed significant reduction in migraine days when compared
to control (p<0.006) in RCT conducted in adults. Magnesium chloride had never introduced as
migraine prophylactic agent in clinical trials. Magnesium citrate seems to be
the preferred oral magnesium supplement for migraine prevention; however,
further studies comparing the efficacy of different oral magnesium supplements
are needed.
Author: Sultan Alghadeer
Journal Code: jpfarmasigg160033
