Zinc supplementation affects favorably the frequency of migraine attacks: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial

Abstract

Background Observational studies have shown a link between zinc deficiency and migraine headaches. We aimed to examine the effect of zinc supplementation on the characteristics of migraine attacks in patients with migraine. Methods This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 80 patients with migraine. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either zinc sulfate (220 mg/d zinc sulfate) or placebo (lactose) for 8 weeks. Anthropometric measures, serum zinc concentrations, and characteristics of migraine attacks (headache severity, frequency and duration of migraine attacks, and headache daily results) were assessed at baseline and end of the trial. Results Compared with the placebo, zinc supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in headache severity (− 1.75 ± 1.79 vs. -0.80 ± 1.57; P = 0.01) and migraine attacks frequency (− 2.55 ± 4.32 vs. -0.42 ± 4.24; P = 0.02) in migraine patients. However, the observed reduction for headache severity became statistically non-significant when the analysis was adjusted for potential confounders and baseline values of headache severity. Other characteristics of migraine attacks including the duration of attacks and headache daily results were not altered following zinc supplementation either before or after controlling for covariates. Conclusion Zinc supplementation had a beneficial effect on the frequency of migraine attacks in migraine patients. Additional well-designed clinical trials with a long period of intervention and different dosages of zinc are required. Trial registration code IRCT20121216011763N23 at www.irct.ir.

Assessing the Effect of Zinc Supplementation on the Frequency of Migraine Attack, Duration, Severity, Lipid Profile and hs-CRP in Adult Women

“…Moreover, in the current study, the normal range of baseline serum zinc levels in the intervention and CGs were observed. In agreement with our results, a previous study has shown that supplementation with zinc decreases the frequency and intensity of migraine headaches in patients with normal range of serum zinc levels [ 7 ]. However, the exact mechanism of zinc on migraine headache is not fully understood [ 7 ], but the possible mechanisms could be through the role of different aspect of insulin action in the body from inhibition of the lipolysis in adipose tissues, down to reducing free fatty acid release into the circulation and thus improved lipid profile, inhibition of nuclear factor-κB activity, decreased expression of inflammatory factors such as interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and thus decreased serum levels of hs-CRP [ 8 33 ], so it seems that zinc supplementation could be beneficial to management of migraine-related complications by improving CVD risk factors such as lipid profile and hs-CRP in migraineurs.…”

“…Consistent with our results, in several trials zinc supplementation in various diseases, have shown no significant difference of serum level of hs-CRP [ 7 38 ]. However, the decreasing effect of zinc supplementation on serum level of hs-CRP was reported in elderly subjects and adults with metabolic syndrome [ 8 39 ].…”

“…Recently, the effect of different vitamins and nutraceuticals on migraine symptoms and patients' quality of life has been studied, and the findings showed promising effects of dietary supplements including zinc, magnesium, melatonin, vitamin D, riboflavin, vitamin B 6 , folic acid, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, coenzyme Q10, butterbur and feverfew leaves on migraine patients [ 6 7 ].…”

“…However, in some studies, no significant relationship was observed between increased hs-CRP levels and migraine headache attacks [ 14 15 ]. In previous limited studies, the positive effect of zinc supplementation alone or along with other dietary supplements (magnesium, B complex, vitamin E, and coenzyme Q10) on the frequency, duration and severity of migraine attacks have been reported [ 7 16 ]. Ahmadi et al [ 7 ] showed that there is no significant difference in C-reactive protein (CRP) level between the intervention group (IG) and control group (CG).…”

“…In previous limited studies, the positive effect of zinc supplementation alone or along with other dietary supplements (magnesium, B complex, vitamin E, and coenzyme Q10) on the frequency, duration and severity of migraine attacks have been reported [ 7 16 ]. Ahmadi et al [ 7 ] showed that there is no significant difference in C-reactive protein (CRP) level between the intervention group (IG) and control group (CG). Since patients with migraine attacks are at higher risk of CVD and lower zinc levels as reported in previous studies and also lack of sufficient evidence for the effect of zinc supplementation on serum hs-CRP and lipid profiles [ 7 17 ], present RCT was designed to evaluate the effect of zinc gluconate supplementation on some CVD risk factors and migraine-related symptoms in migraineurs.…”