A new study recently published in the International Journal of Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Research suggests a link between iron-deficiency anemia, hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels and the incidence of migraine in women. 

“Both migraine and iron-deficiency anemia are more common in young women, although there are very few studies exist about the relationship between these two diseases,” Maryam Poursadeghfard, MD, from the Clinical Neurology Research Center at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran and colleagues wrote in the study. “So, if the relationship between iron-deficiency anemia and migraine attacks is confirmed with more evidence, the treatment of iron IDA can greatly influence the rate of migraine attacks and the life quality of migraine patients.”

Migraine. Source: Getty Images

To determine the relationship between migraine and IDA, Poursadeghfard and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional case-controlled study which was conducted between February and June 2017.

The researchers collected blood samples from patients who met HIS-based migraine criteria and prevalence of their migraine attacks was as high as requiring prophylaxis.

The case cohort was made up of 100 patients with an average age of 37.63 ± 9.93 years. This group included 76 women with an average age of 37.79 ± 10.28 years and 24 men with an average age of 37.13 ± 8.93 years.

According to the study, the control group was made up of 100 healthy patients without migraine who had referred to the laboratory review only. There was a total of 76 women with an average age of 36 ± 11.9 years and 24 males with an average age of 31.54 ± 12.97 years.

The results of the study showed a statistically significant difference between female cases and controls regarding hemoglobin, serum ferritin levels and iron-deficiency anemia (P = .0004; .006; .001). However, no differences were observed among males (P = .606; .38; .303). 

There was also a significant difference in iron-deficiency anemia (P = .032), but no significant difference was found in hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels (P = .161; .178).  

“The present study indicates the relationship between hemoglobin, ferritin, as well as IDA and migraine, especially in women and girls,” the researchers wrote. “Therefore, according to the results, treatment for iron- deficiency anemia or iron supplementation may be suggested as a suitable treatment or prevention method for patients suffering from both migraine and IDA at the same time.”