Is There Any Correlation between Migraine Attacks and Iron Deficiency Anemia? ACase-Control Study

Abstract

Background: Migraine headache is an episodic abnormality which usually presents with a severe headache, accompanied by nausea, photo and sound sensitivity, and autonomic symptoms. Iron accumulation in brain, especially peri-aqueductal grey is associated with duration of the disease, and apparently there is an association between body iron storage status and the incidence of migraine; hence, the present study was conducted to investigate the plausible association between iron-deficiency anemia and migraine in a casecontrol design. Materials and Methods: After signing the written informed consent, the blood samples were collected by a well-trained technician from the patients proved to have migraine, those having migraine clinical criteria and those having migraine attack frequency as high as that prophylaxis was required, and non-migraine healthy individuals, those having not migraine and anemia except iron-deficiency anemia. Based on the sample size, each group composed of samples with at least 100 individuals. Results: There were statistically significant differences between female cases and controls regarding hemoglobin, serum ferritin levels and iron-deficiency anemia (P-value: .0004; .006; .001), but no differences were observed among males (P-value: .606; .38; .303). Furthermore, the case-control comparisons revealed a significant difference in iron-deficiency anemia (P-value: .032), but no significant difference was seen in hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels (P-value: .161; .178). Conclusion: The present study suggests an association between iron-deficiency anemia, hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels and the incidence of migraine in females. As a result, there might be an association between body iron storage status and the incidence of migraine, especially among females, reflecting the fact that iron supplements might be an effective treatment or prophylaxis in patients with migraine associated with iron-deficiency anemia. However, further studies are required to provide a conclusive answer to the issues remained controversial.

Giving Researchers a Headache – Sex and Gender Differences in Migraine

“…In our search, we also found a case-control study intended to build further upon the hypothesized role of iron in migraine, which plays an essential role in the synthesis of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine (96). Accumulation of iron in the brain, specifically in the deep brain nuclei and the periaqueductal gray matter, has been shown to be related to the migraine neurobiology -supported by earlier neuroimaging evidence (97)(98)(99)(100).…”

“…These findings suggest that treatment for iron-deficiency anemia or iron supplementation might be a beneficial preventive method for patients suffering from migraine coinciding with iron deficiency anemia. Indeed, both migraine and iron-deficiency (induced by heavy menstrual flow) are more common in young females (96).…”

The Role of Fe, Zn, and Cu in Pregnancy

“…This results in hypochromic microcytic anemia, especially in the 2nd and 3rd trimester, which may give adverse symptoms of organ and tissue dysfunction [106]. Premature birth or a low weight birth may occur [107], as well as myocardial hypoxia (e.g., tachycardia) [108], cerebral hypoxia (e.g., weakness, drowsiness, headaches, and dizziness) [109][110][111], immunosuppression [111], and appetite disorders (e.g., eating chalk) [112]. The prevalence of anemia in pregnant women ranges from 17% to 31% in Europe and North America, 53-61% in Africa, and 44-53% in Southeast Asia [113].…”

Association Between Dietary Iron Intake and Serum Ferritin and Severe Headache or Migraine

“…Patients with iron-deficiency anemia had a high frequency of migraine ( 15 ). A case-control study found that female migraineurs had low serum ferritin levels ( 17 ). However, the case-control study did not perform further age-stratified analysis, which was different from our study.…”

“…Ferritin, an important biomarker of body iron stores ( 16 ), deserves attention for its relationship with migraines. An observational study found lower serum ferritin levels in woman migraineurs ( 17 ), suggesting a role for dietary iron intake in the management of migraine. Dopamine plays a role in the pathogenesis of migraine, and iron is an essential trace element for the synthesis of dopamine ( 18 – 20 ).…”