Vitamin B2 (2004) and Migraine Headaches

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These researchers wanted to evaluate the usefulness and effectiveness of vitamin B2 (also known as riboflavin) as a migraine headache preventative. The study they conducted was an open-label trial (ie, not blind or double-blind) in a clinic for outpatients. A baseline was established for patients with a history of migraine headaches, noting how often they'd been having attacks, how long they lasted, how strong they were, and what drugs had been used to counter the migraine attacks. The patients were given 400mg vitamin B2 daily and their reports of headaches were monitored at three and six months after the treatment began.

After both three months and again after six months, the frequency was lowered by 1/2 from about 4 days/monthly to 2 days/monthly. The use of other drugs (that had not worked well) was reduced from 7 a month to 4.5 a month.

However, the duration and strength of the headaches did not change very much.

Researchers: Boehnke C, Reuter U, Flach U, Schuh-Hofer S, Einhaupl KM, Arnold G.

Published: Eur J Neurol. 2004 Jul;11(7):475-7. High-dose riboflavin treatment is efficacious in migraine prophylaxis: an open study in a tertiary care centre.