Riboflavin prevents migraine headache

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Riboflavin or Vitamin B2 for migraine prophylaxis

 

Complementary and alternative medicine is being used for numerous chronic disorders including pain. A disorder of mitochondrial energy metabolism has been implicated in pathogenesis of migraine headaches. Riboflavin may help correct that. Riboflavin deficiency is rare. Studies indicate that high dose of B2 have prophylactic effects against migraine headaches. 

 

Study

Schoenen et al. from the Department of Neurology, University of Liège, CHR Citadelle, Belgium conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled examined the role of riboflavin (400 mg/d) in patients (n=55) suffering from 2 to 8 attacks of migraine headaches per month. 

 

Results

Greater than 50% improvement was seen in 54% of treatment group as compared to 19% in placebo. Riboflavin reduced the headache days from 57% as compared to 19% in placebo group. This was associated with a significant improvement in migraine index score of 39 in treatment group as compared to 8% in placebo. The number-needed-to-treat for effective response was 2.3.

 

 

Migraine in children and adolescents

 

Study

Condo and colleagues from the Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy, conducted a retrospective study to examine the role of riboflavin for preventing migraine heaaches in pediatric and adolescent patients (n=41). The findings about beneficial effect of riboflavin were published in the Journal of Headache and Pain.

Methods

Subjects with migraine headaches receieved 200 or 400 mg/day oral dose of riboflavin for 3, 4 or 6 months.

Results

The riboflavin supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in migraine episode frequency and intensity (p<0.05). 

Follow up these subjects revealed that 68 percent of the subjects demonstrated a 50% or greater reduction in frequency of attacks. Adverse events included vomiting and increased appetite which the authors felt were unrelated to the riboflavin administration.

It should however be noted that other studies in children have however provided opposing results.

Do you take riboflavin or anyother vitamin or supplement to prevent migraines? Please share.

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