FAQ Episode 75: Multiple sclerosis and migraine. What reparative factors do they share?
Frequently Asked Questions about Natural Migraine Relief
Does having migraines increase your risk of getting multiple sclerosis (M.S.)? A recent study suggests…yes. But before we conclude that life is just rigged against migraineurs, let’s consider the upside of this report. When we see comorbid disorders, that is two health problems happening in the same person, its useful to ask if the two problems could have similar root cause factors. If they do, we may be able to take action in a way that assists or minimizes both problems. Let’s take a closer look at what this study found, what it might mean, and what we can do to reduce risk for both migraine and M.S.
Neuroscience researchers at the University of Bergen in Norway followed over 85,000 women for a 10 year span. They found that those who had migraines at the time of intake were 163% more likely to develop M.S. over the following ten years.1 The risk was not related to those with non-migraine type headaches. In the at-risk group, migraines were present for up to five to ten years before the onset of the M.S. symtoms. This raises the question of what corresponding elements may predispose to both of these serious health problems? And what potentially preemptive action might be indicated? Let’s go next to a study that relates deficits in these disorders to specific corrective measures to consider.
Looking for mutual root causes
This research relating migraine and M.S. dates from 2019 and was one of the first of its kind.2 It compared ten vitamin and oxidation biochemical markers, and their relationship to patients with 1) migraine 2) M.S. and 3) both disorders. These blood test markers included:
Vitamin D
Vitamin D-binding protein (VITDBP)
Vitamin D receptor (VITDR)
Highly-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)
Superoxide dismutase (SOD)
Catalase (CAT)
Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)
Total antioxidant status (TAS)
Total oxidant status (TOS)
Oxidative Stress Index (OSI) values
This is the type of research that get my investigative Spidey-senses tingling. These markers are a “look into the black box” as it were, giving us some insight as to “why this is happening to you.” Well, at least some of the mechanisms for how it might happen. We don’t know yet for certain whether the migraine/M.S. comordibity (“they are happening together”) is the cause of, or the result of, or both of changes seen in these biochemical markers. But they are aligned. Let’s look at what this study found:
Lower vitamin D levels were detected in the coexistence of MS and migraine.
Lower antioxidant enzyme levels were detected in the coexistence of MS and migraine.
Higher oxidative stress was detected in the coexistence of MS and migraine.
Higher hs-CRP levels (a key inflammatory marker) were detected in the coexistence of MS and migraine.
In other words, if you have migraine or M.S., or both, we should attend to 1) optimizing your Vitamin D level, and 2) reducing your levels of oxidative stress, especially in the brain. Both of these considerations have significant research behind them. We don’t know yet whether alleviating migraines will clear your future risk for multiple sclerosis, but this research supports the concept that, when untreated, ongoing stress to the brain can lead to a wide range of potential brain aging disorders.
Action considerations
To reduce current migraines and take preventive action for M.S., some practical steps would include:
Checking your Vitamin D3 level, and optimizing it up into the 60-80+ range. Unless you live in Panama, you will almost certainly need oral supplementation, most likely in the 3000-5000 IU/day range.
Unfortunately, knowing your best level is not intuitive. It requires a specific blood test, and then individualized dosing to achieve optimal levels. For more information, see these posts, and also the “Lesson 6” link in #3 below:
-FAQ Episode 11: Migraine prevention: Make sure you don’t ‘fall back’ on your Vitamin D3 level.
-FAQ Episode 40: Vitamin Deficiencies predict migraine risk
-FAQ Episode 48: Four simple lab results everyone with migraine should know.
Reducing oxidative (inflammatory) stress on the brain. There are many pro-inflammatory factors in everyday life, and one step to take is to identify and clear or minimize them as best one can. The other side of this coin is to assist the brain in optimizing its energy producing and oxidation clearing capacity. Many of us have either genetic weak links or dietary shortfalls that place limits on one or both of these critical functions.
Some of the useful posts on this site that address these include the three FAQs listed above, as well as,
-FAQ Episode 9: How does histamine formed in the gut affect migraines?
-FAQ Episode 13: How assisting brain repair can limit the recurrent cycle of damage in migraine
-FAQ Episode 20: How do food sensitivities promote migraine headaches?
-FAQ Episode 36: Electrosensitivity and Headaches
-FAQ Episode 74: Brain bio-energetics and migraine: an interview with Dr. Elena Gross
Start with basic bio-energetic nutritional support. I have found that between the literature support and my own clinical experience there are at a minimum four front line nutrients that should be considered for every single patient with migraine. These would include magnesium, Vitamin D, riboflavin and CoQ10. I call these “The Basic Four.” This regimen is a simple, safe and a relatively inexpensive approach to the management of nutrient deficits and their impact on migraines. I have posted part of my paid course Lesson 6: Integrative Therapy for Migraines for you to give some background and details on “The Basic Four.” Click the Lesson 6 link just above and after reading the first~10 paragraphs you will see the dosing details for those four key nutrients.
If you are looking for a simpler yet more sophisticated daily bioenergetic support formula, take a look at what I consider the best “one stop shopping” choice for basic migraine support as the world’s first medical food: Migraket. If you would like to give this approach a one month trial, you can get 25% off with the promo code DRBAKER25.
Multiple sclerosis and migraine are yet another example of comorbid disorders where common underlying root cause factors can be identified and addressed. My hope and goal for each one of my readers here is to better understand your unique version of biochemical strengths or weaknesses so that you can find the additive therapeutic measures that bring relief. For more information on how you can identify these for yourself, take a look at FAQ Episode 42: What can I learn from the Natural Migraine Relief course?
Migraine in the multiple sclerosis prodrome: a prospective nationwide cohort study in pregnant women Karine Eid, et.al. The Journal of Headache and Pain Volume 25, Article number: 225 (2024) Published: 23 December 2024
Why do multiple sclerosis and migraine coexist? Mehmet Hamamcı, et.al. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders Volume 40101946 May 2020