According to the Mayo Clinic, migraines affect 28 million Americans. While many people require medicine to help prevent or relieve these chronic headaches, some migraines may be alleviated through natural means, such as increasing your levels of certain vitamins. However, follow the recommendations of your doctor for all migraine treatments.
Chemical Balance
Migraines, severe chronic headaches, can occur from unbalanced levels of certain chemicals in your brain, like the neurotransmitter serotonin, which helps control your feelings of pain. While these chemicals can become unbalanced for a variety of reasons, from hormonal changes to loud noises, a deficiency of vitamins may also cause an imbalance. In addition, some vitamins may help balance your brain's chemistry in a more natural way, instead of medications that can have negative side effects.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a compound your body produces when the sun's UV radiation passes through your skin. However, according to a study done by doctors with the American Headache Society, just over 40 percent of migraine patients suffered from a vitamin D deficiency, leading them to conclude that increasing your vitamin D intake or production may help prevent migraines. While you can find some vitamin D in fish, milk and fortified foods like cereal, get about 10 minutes of direct sunlight daily to aid in the natural production of the vitamin.
Vitamin B-6
According to the Mayo Clinic, B-6 is important for your nervous system's health because it is necessary for your body's production of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin. Since people who suffer from migraines sometimes have reduced levels of serotonin, scientists believe there may be a link between insufficient vitamin B-6 -- which would prevent the proper production of serotonin -- and migraines. A minor deficiency of the vitamin is fairly common; however, it can be found in a broad spectrum of foods, including dairy products and vegetables.
Vitamin B-2
Your body uses vitamin B-2 in a variety of ways, including the production of red blood cells and as an antioxidant. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, vitamin B-2, also called riboflavin, may help those suffering from migraines by reducing the frequency and length of migraines. A 400 mg dose of B-2 daily may cut the frequency of migraines by up to half. To get this amount, you would need to take a supplement. However, B-2 is also found in red meat, poultry, fish and dairy.
References
- MayoClinic.org: Migraine
- MayoClinic.com; Migraine; June 2011
- American Headache Society; Information for Patients; Steve D. Wheeler, M.D., FAAN, FAHS et al.
- MayoClinic.com; Vitamin B-6; July 2011
- Office of Dietary Supplements; Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin B-6
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Vitamin B-2 (Riboflavin); June 2009
