Does Magnesium cause headaches? (3 Research studies explained)
By
Dr Natalia Marceli Stephanes (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes PhD is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drugs Administration and Toxicity; Discovery of New Drugs; Cancer Treatment; Biochemical Analyzes and Hematological Analyzes. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes’ Highlights:
- Pharmacist at the Department of Health of Santa Catarina State, Brazil
- PhD with a focus on oncology treatment
- Years of experience in commercial pharmacy
- Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina
Professional Experience:
From her undergraduate studies to her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Pharmacy, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has participated in numerous scientific studies in the field of oncology and onco-hematology at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Her research has focused on understanding the molecular and biochemical bases of malignant neoplasms and investigating safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has also served as an assistant professor of haematology for undergraduate students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Additionally, she held the position of professor of Hospital Pharmacy at the Qualificar Technical School in Brazil, where she developed instructional materials for use in the Pharmacy Postgraduate Program at the Leonardo Da Vinci University Center.
In addition to her academic experiences, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes possesses a strong expertise in commercial pharmacy, with in-depth knowledge of medications, their routes of administration, desired effects, adverse effects, and toxicity.
Currently, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes works as a Pharmacist at the Health Department of Santa Catarina State, where her role entails providing pharmaceutical scientific consulting services to judges.
Education:
- 2016 Bachelor in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2018 Master in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2023 PhD in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
The main publications of Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes are:
Falchetti M ; Delgobo M, Zancanaro H, Almeida K, Das Neves RN, Dos Santos B, Stefanes NM, et al. Bishop Omics-based identification of an NRF2-related auranofin resistance signature in cancer: Insights into drug repurposing. Comput. Biol. Med [Internet]. 2023; 152:106347.
Feuser PM, Matos dos Santos PC, Cordeiro AP, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Maioral MF, Santos-Silva MC, et al. Antineoplastic activity of free 4-nitrochalcone and encapsulated in poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene polymerization in two human leukemia cell lines (Jurkat and K562). J Drug Deliv Sci Technol [Internet]. 2022; 67:102924.
Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Perondi DM, Efe FL, Souza LFS, Sens L, et al. Synthesis of chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone and evaluation of their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in acute leukemia cell lines. Bioorg. Chem [Internet]. 2021; 116:105315.
Duarte BF, Vieira DSC, Lisboa ML, Stefanes NM, Grando LJ, Santos-Silva MC. Características clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células escamosas de boca. Arquivos Catarinenses de Medicina. 2021; 50(2): 232–245.
Machado V, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Santos-Silva MC, Biavatti MW. Anti-leukemic activity of semisynthetic derivatives of Lupeol. Nat. Prod. Res. 2021; 35(22):4494-4501.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Yunes RA, et al. A novel sulfonamide derivative as a strong and selective apoptotic agent against hematological malignancies. Chem. Pap. 2020; 74:2965–2976.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Cytotoxic mechanisms of primin, a natural quinone isolated from Eugenia hiemalis, on hematological cancer cell lines. Anticancer Drugs. 2020; 31(7):709-717.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Neufeldt PD, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Santos-Silva MC. Aldehyde biphenyl chalcones induce immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death and are promising new safe compounds against a wide range of hematologic cancers. Future Med. Chem. 2020; 12(8):673–688.
Perondi DM, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Maioral MF, Sens L, Pacheco LA, Cury NM, et al. A novel thiosemicarbazone as a promising effective and selective compound for acute leukemia. Anticancer Drugs. 2019; 30(8):p 828-837.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Argenta DF, Dotto MER, Santos-Silva MC, et al. PEO-chitosan nanofibers containing carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanoparticles loaded with pyrazoline for skin cancer treatment. Eur. Polym. J. 2019; 119:335-343.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Santos-Silva MC, Nunes RJ, Parize AL, et al. A new and efficient carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanocarrier for a pyrazoline with antileukemic activity. Mater. Sci. Eng. C [Internet]. 2019; 105:110051.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Miconidine acetate, a new selective and cytotoxic compound with synergic potential, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Invest. New Drugs. 2019; 37:912–922.
Srefanes NM, Toigo J, Maioral MF, Jacques AV, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Perondi DM, Ribeiro AAB, et al. Synthesis of novel pyrazoline derivatives and the evaluation of death mechanisms involved in their antileukemic activity. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2019; 27(2):375-382.
Maioral MF, Bodack CN, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Yunes RA, et al. Cytotoxic effect of a novel naphthylchalcone against multiple cancer cells focusing on hematologic malignancies. Biochim. 2017; 140:48-57.
You can view some of Dr Natália’s work below and links to her professional profile below.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalia-Stephanes
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliamarceli/
Does Magnesium cause headaches?
No, Magnesium does not cause headaches. In fact, this mineral holds clinical importance in the management of migraine and Magnesium deficiency is one of the common findings in people struggling with chronic headaches.
So, Magnesium does not increase intracranial tension or trigger headaches on its own. However, if you’re struggling with headaches, you should get your Magnesium levels checked.
Research studies on the relationship between Magnesium and headaches
There are several research studies linking Magnesium to headaches. A 2020 research study published in the Journal of MDPI ‘Nutrients’ indicated that Magnesium is used for managing and preventing migraine headaches.
The study added that the majority of people with chronic headaches have Magnesium deficiency, which can lead to worsening of the symptoms. This is why Magnesium supplements hold clinical importance in the management of chronic headaches.
Among Magnesium supplements, Magnesium Pidolate is considered the best one and it achieves greater bioavailability as compared to other supplements (1). Another research study focused on the physiological aspects of Magnesium deficiency and headaches.
The study indicated that Magnesium deficiency could increase intracranial depression, enhance pain perception, and cause platelet aggregation – all of the factors which can trigger migraine headaches or increase the frequency of migraine attacks if one already struggles with it (2).
Several other studies have also indicated that Magnesium can be used as a preventive measure for such headaches. This clearly shows that Magnesium does not cause headaches on its own and people who suffer from such pains usually have a Magnesium deficiency.
Magnesium deficiency can also trigger muscle pains, and magnesium supplements can sometimes help manage muscular pain associated with some medications, like Sertraline, Fluoxetine, Gabapentin, etc.
What to do if you’re struggling with headaches?
Reach out to your healthcare provider if you constantly find yourself struggling with headaches. If Magnesium is the element of concern for you, make sure you’re not deficient.
If you are and that is what’s causing your headaches, there are a lot of effective Magnesium supplements that can help restore your Magnesium reserves and make you feel better. However, a headache could have a million different causes, including:
- Inadequate sleep
- Too much caffeine or caffeine withdrawal
- Prolonged eye strain
- Stress
- Dehydration
- High blood pressure
- Dental problems
- Head or neck injury
- Hormonal imbalance
- Sinus headaches
- Medication-induced headaches (Examples of medications that can cause headaches include antidepressants like Lexapro and Wellbutrin, painkillers like Tramadol, weight-loss pills like Phentermine, etc)
This is why it’s important to discuss chronic headaches with a doctor to determine the exact cause of your symptoms. Proper diagnosis is an essential key to determining the best possible treatment strategy.
If you have an underlying cause of your headaches, your doctor will prescribe some suitable medications to deal with your symptoms effectively.
Important tips to manage headaches
There are some tips that can help manage your headaches. These include:
- Avoid straining your eyes when you’re having a headache. Prolonged use of electronic gadgets can exacerbate your headache by exerting pressure on your brain.
- Switch off the lights, lie down, and close your eyes. Avoid listening to anything until you feel a little better.
- Take an OTC painkiller, like Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Naproxen, etc to help relieve the pain.
- Drink a hot beverage, like tea or coffee.
- Apply OTC headache balms on your forehead. These medicated topical preparations relieve the pain and massaging them into your skin can help improve blood flow.
- Consult a doctor if your headache persists.
Was this helpful?
References
1.-
Maier JA, Pickering G, Giacomoni E, Cazzaniga A, Pellegrino P. Headaches and Magnesium: Mechanisms, Bioavailability, Therapeutic Efficacy and Potential Advantage of Magnesium Pidolate. Nutrients. 2020 Aug 31;12(9):2660. doi: 10.3390/nu12092660. PMID: 32878232; PMCID: PMC7551876. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7551876/
2.-
Yablon LA, Mauskop A. Magnesium in headache. In: Vink R, Nechifor M, editors. Magnesium in the Central Nervous System [Internet]. Adelaide (AU): University of Adelaide Press; 2011. PMID: 29920023. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507271/
