Vitamin B6 is essential to good health and benefits the body in several ways. Some believe that vitamin B6 plays an important role in migraine relief, while others believe its use offers no help. Vitamin B6, while necessary to human function, can produce problems if taken in excess. All vitamins should be used in conjunction with the advice of a doctor.
Function
Vitamin B6 will help keep blood from clotting in the arteries and is used in the process of making hemoglobin. B6 is important in managing blood sugar and preventing heart disease. This vitamin also plays a role in protein metabolism and can improve cognitive function as you age. The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements also found that vitamin B6 helps to maintain glands that create white blood cells used to support your immune system.
Benefits
Vitamin B6 can relieve premenstrual pain. It can keep the nervous system healthy and can be effective at improving acne. According to a study published in the journal of Pharmacogenetics and Genomics, research indicates that after supplementing with the combination of vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and folic acid, "headache severity and frequency were reduced in the vitamin B group while no changes were noted in the placebo group." This indicates that vitamin B6 supplementation may be a benefit to migraine sufferers.
Considerations
The foods you eat could be contributing to your migraines. Foods such as cow's milk, wheat and chocolate could induce a headache. In addition, "cheese, beer, and wine induce migraines in some people because they contain histamines and/or vasoactive compounds that cause blood vessels to expand," according to HealthCommunities.com. This dilation of blood vessels could cause migraines. Vitamin B6 is important in the activity of eliminating these histamines and could thereby help reduce the pain caused by headaches.
Warnings
Your doctor may recommend treating migraines with vitamin B6 at doses higher than generally advised. You should maintain the level prescribed by your doctor and not exceed this amount. A vitamin B6 toxicity can cause damage to the nervous system. Dr. Sergey A. Dzugan noted in Life Extension Magazine, "vitamin B6 is necessary for the production of serotonin, the brain neurotransmitter that has a major role in the sleep-wake cycle, chronic pain, mood, and appetite." B6 should be taken prior to bedtime to benefit from its calming effect.
Recommendations
The Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine recommends an average of 1.5 mg of Vitamin B6 for healthy adults. Deficiencies are not common since many foods are fortified with vitamin B6. The National Migraine Association acknowledges that migraines can be debilitating. Without appropriate treatment, migraines can cause days of missed work and affect all aspects of your life. While vitamin B6 can be promising, it is not without risks. Always consult a doctor before trying a treatment at home.
