Decreased plasma levels and dietary intake of minerals in women with migraine

ABSTRACT

It has been suggested that an imbalance in mineral levels is involved in the pathophysiology of migraine. However, only a few studies have investigated the circulating levels of mineral in patients with migraine during the pain-free period (i.e. interictal). This study aimed to investigate whether the interictal plasma levels of minerals of women with migraine differ from those of women without migraine (controls). This is a cross-sectional study involving 67 women, of which 38 were diagnosed with migraine and 29 were controls. The groups were similar in age and body mass index. Plasma levels of magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), calcium (Ca), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and selenium (Se) were measured. Dietary intake was assessed using a 24-hour food recall, and migraine impact was evaluated using the Headache Impact Test, version 6 (HIT-6). The association between migraine disability, and plasma levels and dietary intake of minerals was assessed through correlation and logistic regression analyses. Women with migraine had significantly lower plasma levels of Mg, Ca, Cu, and Zn than controls. In parallel, dietary intake of Mg, Cu, and Fe was significantly lower in patients with migraine. Migraine impact was not associated with plasma levels or dietary intake of minerals. The results suggest that patients with migraine have lower plasma levels of minerals, and dietary intervention to ensure adequate mineral intake should be considered as a therapeutic strategy for migraine.

KEYWORDS:

• Migraine
• minerals
• diet
• magnesium
• copper
• zinc
• iron
• selenium

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, [A.V.M.F.], upon reasonable request.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank for the students Isabel Myrian Guimarães Campos, Tamara Carneiro Medeiros de Souza, Luciana Alves de Andrade, Jenneffer R.B. Tibaes and Matheus H. A. Amaral for their help during data collection. The Neuropsychiatry Program is funded by the UT Health Houston, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the Brazilian government funding agencies: Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG).

Notes on contributors

Mariele Lino Silva

Mariele Lino Silva has a Master’s Degree in Nutrition and Health from the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), and is a Ph.D. student at the Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Physiology and Pharmacology at UFMG.

Laís Bhering Martins

Laís Bhering Martins has a Ph.D. in Food Science from the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), and she is currently a postdoctoral research fellow at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UT Health).

Luana Caroline dos Santos

Luana Caroline dos Santos is a professors and researchers at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG).

Gilberto Simeone Henriques

Gilberto Simeone Henriques is a professors and researchers at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG).

Antonio Lucio Teixeira

Antonio Lucio Teixeira is a professor actively involved in both clinical and research components at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UT Health.

Ana Maria dos Santos Rodrigues

Ana Maria dos Santos Rodrigues has a Ph.D. in Food Science from Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), and she is currently a nutritionist at the Hospital Regional de Betim (Brazil).

Adaliene Versiani Matos Ferreira

Adaliene Versiani Matos Ferreira is a professors and researchers at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG).