Migraine and zinc deficiency in women - A mini review

Abstract

Migraine is a frequently occurring multifactorial neurovascular disorder affecting over a billion people globally. Migraine load is distinctive concerning gender, i.e. it is more severe in women and has a prolonged healing period. People with migraine have a primary headache disorder, a public health concern in low and middle-income countries. Studies have shown that brainstem regions and the trigeminovascular pathway are linked to the migraine attack's symptomatology. The episode is mediated by the release of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP). It is a widely expressed neuropeptide with a sole role in sensory neurotransmission. Treatment of migraine remains underdiagnosed; its frequency and intensity are poorly understood. Although patients consume the antagonists of CGRP, migraine still prevails heavily in women. Dietary factors are often considered migraine triggers. One such dietary factor is Zinc deficiency. Zinc deficiency is mainly observed in women with poor dietary intake in rural and sub-rural areas of India. Recently Zinc has been shown to play a role in migraine disorders. This review briefly summarizes how supplementary Zinc may be a potential therapeutic strategy to overcome migraine pain.