New Study Suggests Zinc Could Help Alleviate Migraines

Painful migraine headaches can bring your day to a screeching halt, but a new study revealed a possible remedy.

A study published by "Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain" examined more than 11,000 American adults and found those whose diet included 15.8 milligrams or more of zinc a day had a lower risk of migraines, compared with those who consumed 5.9 milligrams or less a day.

Tamar Stokes said she has been having extreme migraines for more than half her life.

"I have migraines every day, but I always say that on a scale of one to 10, if it's a five or six, I'm just functioning," she said.

Stokes said her migraines have gotten worse with age, often leaving her feeling crippled. She has tried several treatment options but, unfortunately, found little relief.

According to Ernestine A. Wright, M.D., FACP, a board certified primary care doctor with Mercy Personal Physicians Downtown, adding zinc to your diet is not as difficult as you might think.

"Because zinc is easily accessible in foods as well as a supplement, it gives us some hope," Dr. Wright said. "It is exciting to know that there is a possibility that a simple thing like correcting a nutritional deficiency could potentially decrease migraines."

Migraines are extremely common among women, especially those who are under a lot of stress and are not sleeping enough.

There are certain triggers that may be in our daily diet, like chocolate or caffeine that can bring on a migraine and adding zinc may be a beneficial addition.

"Zinc is found in shellfish, particularly oysters, but it's also found in crabs," Dr. Wright said. "Zinc can also be found in certain fruit like avocados and blackberries."

It can also be found in red meat and poultry, along with whole grains. If you are a vegetarian, you may want to consider adding a supplement.

View Mercy primary care physician Dr. Ernestine Wright's interview regarding the role of zinc in relieving migraines.