Your body needs several key vitamins and minerals to maintain a healthy nervous system, which can impact the development of headaches. Riboflavin and B-6, two B vitamins, along with vitamin D and magnesium, have been shown to reduce the frequency of migraines, so you should look for a multivitamin that contains all these nutrients. However, you should follow your doctor's advice regarding proper migraine treatment.
Riboflavin
Riboflavin or vitamin B-2 is one of the eight B-complex vitamins. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, while riboflavin helps your body metabolize food into energy, it also helps maintain a healthy nervous system. When 400 milligrams of riboflavin is taken each day, it has shown to be effective in decreasing the frequency and duration of migraine headaches by as much as one-half. However, scientists are unclear as to how exactly it works, so more research into riboflavin needs to be conducted.
Vitamin B-6
Your body needs vitamin B-6 or pyridoxine to make the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine. It also helps maintain the myelin sheath, a covering that protects your nerves. Migraine sufferers typically have low levels of these neurotransmitters, a deficiency which may be overcome with additional B-6. In addition, damage to your myelin sheath and nerves due to a B-6 deficiency may also cause headaches, so supplementing your B-6 may be helpful in reducing headaches.
Vitamin D
According to the American Headache Society, around 40 percent of migraine sufferers demonstrate a deficiency in vitamin D, a vitamin that your body produces when the sun penetrates your skin. Some migraine and tension headache sufferers have responded positively to additional vitamin D supplementation, and it rarely causes negative side effects. While it may not be effective for your headaches, there is little risk in taking a multivitamin with additional vitamin D, since it might help.
Magnesium
Magnesium, a mineral, has diverse functions in your body, including helping conduct nerve impulses. Migraine sufferers typically have lower magnesium levels within their cells than those who do not get migraines, so increasing your magnesium level may help prevent migraines. Higher levels of magnesium supplementation, at least 600 milligrams of magnesium daily, have been most effective. When looking for a multivitamin with nutrients to help relieve your headaches, look for one with higher levels of magnesium.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin B-2 (Riboflavin); June 2009
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin B-6
- American Headache Society: Vitamin D, Migraine and Health Medical Complications; Steve D. Wheeler, M.D., et al.; 2007
- Linus Pauling Institute: Micronutrient Information Center: Magnesium; August 2007
