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Migraines and Vitamin B-6

May 12, 2011 | By M. Gideon Hoyle
Migraines and Vitamin B-6
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Migraines are severe, recurring headaches that frequently come with additional symptoms such as abnormal light and sound sensitivities, nausea and vomiting. No one knows exactly what causes these headaches. Use of vitamin B-6 can potentially diminish the effects of a migraine in two different ways, although scientists disagree on the effectiveness of B-6 as a migraine remedy.

Migraine Basics

Migraines belong to a class of headaches called vascular headaches, which seem to result from abnormalities in the blood vessels that supply your brain. However, the exact mechanisms of migraines are unknown, and not all people with this type of headache have the same set of symptoms. Some people with migraines develop unusual disturbances in their visual fields, called auras, prior to the headache; others with migraines don't develop auras. Other potential symptoms of a migraine include eye pain, temporary paralysis on one side of the body and a form of dizziness called vertigo.

Increasing Serotonin Levels

When you experience a migraine, your brain lowers its production of a chemical called serotonin, which helps determine pain levels in your nervous system. In one theory of migraine development, this drop in serotonin may make a major nerve in your head and face, called the trigeminal nerve, release a substance that irritates your brain's outer lining and triggers migraine symptoms. Your body uses vitamin B-6 to make serotonin, and some scientists believe that B-6 supplementation might relieve migraines by increasing serotonin levels. However, according to the National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements, B-6 has shown no clear effectiveness in relieving migraines.

Lowering Homocysteine Levels

Another potential cause of migraines is excessive blood levels of an amino acid called homocysteine, which can disrupt the normal function in the blood vessels associated with your nerves. Along with vitamin B-12 and another B vitamin called folate, vitamin B-6 can help lower your homocysteine levels. According to a study published in 2009 in the journal "Pharmocogenetics and Genomics," combined use of these three B vitamins reduced homocysteine levels by 39 percent in study participants with certain genetic backgrounds and cut their rate of debilitating migraines in half. However, the authors of the study consider their results preliminary and note the need for further testing in people with other backgrounds.

Considerations

In addition to nutritional supplements, vitamin B-6 is found in foods such as bananas, beef, pork, avocados, potatoes and garbanzo beans. The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine has set a maximum safe daily intake for B-6 of 100 mg. If you consume more than this amount, you run the risk of developing nerve damage in your legs and arms. However, this damage --- which typically appears in people taking B-6 supplements --- usually reverses itself when you stop taking the vitamin. Other potential options for the treatment or prevention of migraines include medications called triptans, antinausea drugs, ergot, antiseizure drugs, beta blockers and antidepressants. Consult your doctor for more information on vitamin B-6 and migraine treatment.

References

Article reviewed by Holland Hammond Last updated on: May 12, 2011

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