A combination of coenzyme Q10, feverfew and magnesium for migraine prophylaxis: a prospective observational study.

2017-08-30
BMC complementary and alternative medicine 17(1)
- Angèle Guilbot
- Marie Bangratz
- Samira Ait Abdellah
- Christian Lucas

PubMed: 28854909
DOI: 10.1186/s12906-017-1933-7

Study Design

Type: Observational
Sample size: n = 68
Population: Adult patients suffering from migraine according to the criteria of the International Headache Society
Methods: observational study, after a one-month baseline phase, supplemented with one tablet of 100 mg feverfew, 100 mg coenzyme Q10 and 112.5 mg magnesium per day for 3 months
Duration: 3 months

Background

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium L.), magnesium and coenzyme Q10 are frequently used for migraine prophylaxis. Supplementation with a fixed combination of these three agents (Antemig®, PiLeJe) was investigated in an observational study.

Methods

Adult patients suffering from migraine according to the criteria of the International Headache Society were enrolled by general practitioners (≥2 migraine attacks during previous month; exclusion of chronic migraine and medication overuse) and after a one-month baseline phase, supplemented with one tablet of 100 mg feverfew, 100 mg coenzyme Q10 and 112.5 mg magnesium per day for 3 months.

Results

Supplementation significantly reduced the number of days with migraine headache during third month of supplementation compared to baseline phase (1.3 days ±1.5 versus 4.9 days ±2.6, p < 0.0001; n = 68 intention to treat; primary criterion). The decrease was progressive over the period of supplementation and significant from first month (1st month: -2.5 days ±3.1, p < 0.0001; 2nd month: -3 days ±2.8, p < 0.0001). The proportion of patients with a reduction of at least 50% in the number of days with migraine headache was 75% (51/68) after 3 months, with a progressive increase over the period of supplementation (63.2% [43/68] after 1 month and 70.6% [48/68] after 2 months). The proportion of patients with anxiety and depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) decreased between baseline phase and third month of supplementation from 61.9% (39/63 patients with information available) to 35% (21/60) for depression and from 52.4% (33/63) to 30% (18/60) for anxiety. An improvement of quality of life (Qualité de Vie et Migraine questionnaire) was also observed. The combination was well tolerated.

Conclusions

Results suggest that the proprietary supplement containing feverfew, coenzyme Q10 and magnesium assessed could be beneficial and safe for the prevention of migraine in adult patients and merits further study.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02901756 , retrospectively registered on August 24, 2016.

Research Insights

Magnesium→Improved Quality of Life
An improvement of quality of life (Qualité de Vie et Migraine questionnaire) was also observed.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Dose
112.5 mg/day
Magnesium→Reduced Anxiety Symptom
The proportion of patients with anxiety and depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) decreased between baseline phase and third month of supplementation from 52.4% (33/63) to 30% (18/60) for anxiety.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Dose
112.5 mg/day
Magnesium→Reduced Depressive Symptoms
The proportion of patients with anxiety and depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) decreased between baseline phase and third month of supplementation from 61.9% (39/63 patients with information available) to 35% (21/60) for depression
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Dose
112.5 mg/day
Magnesium→Reduced Migraine Attacks
The decrease was progressive over the period of supplementation and significant from first month (1st month: -2.5 days ±3.1, p < 0.0001; 2nd month: -3 days ±2.8, p < 0.0001).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Dose
112.5 mg/day
Magnesium→Reduced Number of Migraine Days
Supplementation significantly reduced the number of days with migraine headache during third month of supplementation compared to baseline phase (1.3 days ±1.5 versus 4.9 days ±2.6, p < 0.0001; n = 68 intention to treat; primary criterion).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Dose
112.5 mg/day
feverfew→Improved Quality of Life
An improvement of quality of life (Qualité de Vie et Migraine questionnaire) was also observed.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Dose
112.5 mg/day
feverfew→Reduced Anxiety Symptom
The proportion of patients with anxiety and depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) decreased between baseline phase and third month of supplementation from 52.4% (33/63) to 30% (18/60) for anxiety.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Dose
112.5 mg/day
feverfew→Reduced Depressive Symptoms
The proportion of patients with anxiety and depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) decreased between baseline phase and third month of supplementation from 61.9% (39/63 patients with information available) to 35% (21/60) for depression
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Dose
112.5 mg/day
feverfew→Reduced Migraine Attacks
The decrease was progressive over the period of supplementation and significant from first month (1st month: -2.5 days ±3.1, p < 0.0001; 2nd month: -3 days ±2.8, p < 0.0001).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Dose
112.5 mg/day
feverfew→Reduced Number of Migraine Days
Supplementation significantly reduced the number of days with migraine headache during third month of supplementation compared to baseline phase (1.3 days ±1.5 versus 4.9 days ±2.6, p < 0.0001; n = 68 intention to treat; primary criterion).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Dose
112.5 mg/day

Adverse Events Reported

Magnesium→Overall tolerability
The combination was well tolerated.
Finding
Reported
feverfew→Overall tolerability
The combination was well tolerated.
Finding
Reported