title: Serum ionized magnesium levels and serum ionized calcium/ionized magnesium ratios in women with menstrual migraine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It has been suggested that magnesium deficiency may play an important role in menstrual migraine and that the serum ionized calcium (ICa2+)/ionized magnesium (IMg2+) ratio is important in migraine headache. Studies were designed to test these hypotheses.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively evaluated 270 women seen at a headache clinic and in 61 women with menstrual migraine measured IMg2+, total magnesium, and ICa2+ levels so as to calculate the ICa2+/IMg2+ ratio.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidences of IMg2+ deficiency were 45% during menstrual attacks, 15% during nonmenstrual attacks, 14% during menstruation without a migraine, and 15% between menstruations and between migraine attacks. The serum ICa2+ levels were within our reference range, but the ICa2+/IMg2+ ratio was elevated (P<.01) in menstrual migraine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high incidence of IMg2+ deficiency and the elevated ICa2+/IMg2+ ratio during menstrual migraine confirm previous suggestions of a possible role for magnesium deficiency in the development of menstrual migraine.
authors: New York Headache Center, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn 11203, USA.
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Mauskop
authors: Bella T
authors: BT
authors: Altura
authors: Burton M
authors: BM
authors: Altura
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood*; D008275:Magnesium Deficiency / Q000097:blood; D008598:Menstruation / Q000097:blood*; D020326:Migraine without Aura / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium