Migraine treatment by oral magnesium intake and correction of the irritation of buccofacial and cervical muscles as a side effect of mandibular imbalance

A previous paper showed a significant decrease in average erythrocyte magnesium level in 79 migraine patients as compared to 55 controls. This paper completes the results of the initial evaluation, with 152 migraine cases and 85 controls. Serum and erythrocyte magnesium determinations show the following results. Mean serum magnesium was 0.82 mmol/litre in migraine patients and 0.85 mmol/litre in controls, P < 0.005. Mean erythrocyte magnesium was 2.04 mmol/litre in migraine patients and 2.32 mmol/litre in controls, P < 0.0005. These results confirm those of the first paper, but show a more significant difference between the means of the two groups for serum magnesium, which was not significant for the lower number of people involved in the previous study. In all migraine cases without exception clinical evaluation showed an abnormal sensitivity of the buccofacial and cervical muscles which was unilateral and homolateral when migraine was unilateral; it was bilateral when migraine was bilateral. The muscles which were the most sensitive to palpation were the sternocleidomastoid, external pterygoid and scalene. These findings show that migraine patients have a magnesium deficit, which, while not constant, is a frequent occurrence. This raises the problem of the relationship between migraine and other disorders characterized by magnesium deficit, such as latent tetany, mitral valve prolapse, and certain allergies. This magnesium deficit probably promotes muscle irritability, especially when a local imbalance factor results in a permanent pathological stimulation. In addition to irritation and hypersensitivity, migraine attacks occur, particularly after stress, digestive, endocrine and neurological problems.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)