Magnesium for Migraines
At Juice Doctor, we love magnesium – not just because the data suggests that many people are deficient, but also because of the long list of potential benefits it offers!
One of those potential benefits, is the role it plays in migraine prevention and treatment. The numbers in the bracket correspond to the references listed below.
Let’s dive in…
The most commonly studied regimen is oral magnesium (typically magnesium citrate or oxide) at doses of 400–600 mg daily.[1]
A 2016 meta-analysis found that oral magnesium significantly reduced migraine frequency and intensity, supporting its use as part of a multimodal preventive strategy.[2] An umbrella review using GRADE methodology also found strong evidence that magnesium supplementation reduces migraine frequency and intensity.[3]
A 2019 meta-analysis noted that overall, the evidence base is limited by small sample sizes and methodological heterogeneity.[4] Adverse effects are generally mild, with loose stools being the most common.[5]
Current clinical practice often considers magnesium supplementation, especially in patients who prefer non-pharmacologic options or have contraindications to standard therapies. Increasing dietary magnesium intake may also be beneficial, though direct evidence for dietary interventions is less robust.[7][6]
Juice Doctor’s Summary of the evidence:
Magnesium is considered a reasonable option for migraine prevention, with a favorable safety profile and low cost. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials indicate that oral magnesium supplementation can reduce the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks compared to placebo, though the overall strength of evidence is moderate and some studies show mixed results.
Based on the evidence at this time, we feel Juice Doctor is a reasonable option for magnesium supplementation, in those who are looking to take magnesium in support of their migraine symptoms. Two scoops will provide 300mg of magnesium citrate, which is just below the commonly studied dose of 400mg. The reason we did not include 400mg in our product is because we still wanted to respect the recommended daily intake for men and women (see Table below).
Although you may not always agree with our ingredients or dosing, we always want to be able to provide a rationale for our decision making. We hope this helps!
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-Consumer/
References
1. Magnesium in Migraine Prophylaxis-Is There an Evidence-Based Rationale? A Systematic Review. von Luckner A, Riederer F. Headache. 2018;58(2):199-209. doi:10.1111/head.13217.
2. Effects of Intravenous and Oral Magnesium on Reducing Migraine: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Chiu HY, Yeh TH, Huang YC, Chen PY. Pain Physician. 2016;19(1):E97-112.
3. Magnesium and Health Outcomes: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Observational and Intervention Studies. Veronese N, Demurtas J, Pesolillo G, et al. European Journal of Nutrition. 2020;59(1):263-272. doi:10.1007/s00394-019-01905-w.
4. Vitamins and Minerals for Migraine Prophylaxis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Okoli GN, Rabbani R, Kashani HH, et al. The Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences. Le Journal Canadien Des Sciences Neurologiques. 2019;46(2):224-233. doi:10.1017/cjn.2018.394.
5. Prophylaxis of Migraine With Oral Magnesium: Results From a Prospective, Multi-Center, Placebo-Controlled and Double-Blind Randomized Study. Peikert A, Wilimzig C, Köhne-Volland R. Cephalalgia : An International Journal of Headache. 1996;16(4):257-63. doi:10.1046/j.1468-2982.1996.1604257.x.
6. An Evidence-Based Review of Oral Magnesium Supplementation in the Preventive Treatment of Migraine. Teigen L, Boes CJ. Cephalalgia : An International Journal of Headache. 2015;35(10):912-22. doi:10.1177/0333102414564891.
7. Dietary Magnesium and Migraine in Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001-2004. Slavin M, Li H, Khatri M, Frankenfeld C. Headache. 2021;61(2):276-286. doi:10.1111/head.14065.