Studies indicate that supplementing with high dosages of riboflavin, or vitamin B2, may be useful in the treatment and prevention of migraine headaches. Although more research is needed, scientists theorize that riboflavin's role in metabolism may be the reason the vitamin has a beneficial effect on migraines. Side effects of the large doses of riboflavin are generally mild, but no specific amount of riboflavin supplementation has been confirmed as safe, and there is little evidence about the effects of long-term riboflavin usage. Consult your doctor before using riboflavin as a migraine treatment.
Riboflavin
Riboflavin is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a number of essential metabolic roles. It helps with the use of oxygen in energy production and assists in the digestion of nutrients like fat, carbohydrates and protein. The United States Department of Agriculture recommends that men and women over the age of 12 should consume between 1.2 and 1.8 mg of riboflavin daily for optimum health. Foods like meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, whole grains and leafy green vegetables are rich in riboflavin. Drugs.com reports that supplement dosages of 5 to 10 mg daily may be safely used for riboflavin deficiency, but supplement manufacturers typically advise taking an amount equal to the recommended daily allowance.
Riboflavin Dosage
In a 1998 study conducted by Belgian scientists, chronic migraine sufferers were given 400 mg of riboflavin daily, and the frequency and duration of their headaches were compared with the migraines of a group given a placebo. The scientists found that at this dosage, 59 percent of the people given the riboflavin experienced a significant improvement. A similar study focusing on 23 people used the same dosage of riboflavin and found that their migraine intensity decreased and the frequency dropped from four to two migraines monthly. In both of these studies, 400 mg of riboflavin daily did not cause significant side effects, but there is no additional evidence proving that using this level of riboflavin regularly is safe.
Effect on Migraines
Researchers believe that migraine headaches may be partially caused by two things that directly relate to riboflavin: insufficient energy production in the mitochondria of cells and adequate red blood cell numbers. In the body, riboflavin is the precursor compound of a coenzyme that is needed for oxidation to take place in the mitochondria, and insufficient riboflavin may interfere with mitochondrial function. Riboflavin is also needed for the synthesis of red blood cells. With fewer red blood cells, the body has less oxygen to use in metabolism, and this has also been proposed as a possible migraine cause.
Considerations
Riboflavin supplements are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration and are not regulated for effectiveness, purity or safety. Researchers advise that additional clinical trials need to be conducted before riboflavin can be recommended for the treatment of any condition. In addition, using riboflavin can cause a number of side effects, including diarrhea, nausea and bright yellow urine. Talk to your doctor about the possible dangers of riboflavin use and if it may interfere with medications you are already taking.
References
- "Neurology"; Effectiveness of High-Dose Riboflavin in Migraine Prophylaxis - A Randomized Controlled Trial; J. Schoenen, et al.; February 1998
- MayoClinic.com: Riboflavin (Oral Route)
- Drugs.com: Riboflavin
- Bastyr Center for Natural Health: Safely Prevent Migraines with B Vitamin (Riboflavin)
- "European Journal of Neurology"; High-Dose Riboflavin Treatment is Efficacious in Migraine Prophylaxis - An Open Study in a Tertiary Care Centre; C. Boehnke, et al.; July 2004
- Migraine.com: Riboflavin
