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Less migraine with 80 mg vitamin B6 daily
People who suffer from migraine react well to vitamin B6 supplementation [aka pyridoxine]. Nutritionists at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in Iran discovered this. According to their study, which was published in the Iranian Journal of Neurology, vitamin B6 not only reduces the severity but also the duration of migraine attacks.
Study
The researchers experimented with a group of 66 adults aged 30-65, all of whom had had migraines for at least five years. The researchers got half of the subjects to take two pills a day, each of which contained 40 mg vitamin B6, and gave the other half a placebo. The subjects didn't change their medication during the 12 weeks that the experiment lasted.
Results
The supplementation led to a significant reduction in pain during the migraine attacks compared to the experience of the placebo group, and also reduced the duration of the attacks. The supplement had no effect on the number of attacks.
The researchers also looked separately at the subjects who saw stars, flashes or zigzag lines during their migraine episodes. This is known as migraine with aura. Vitamin B6 reduced the symptoms in this group too, according to the table below.
Conclusion
The researchers suggest that vitamin B6 reduces migraine by lowering the concentration of homocysteine in the body. "Earlier studies have shown that a point mutation in the methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene is more prevalent in migraine patients." [Cephalalgia 2009; 29(8): 818-25.]
"This mutation (MTHFR C677T) results a 50 percent reduction in MTHFR activity, which can induce serum hyperhomocysteinemia. It has been shown that reduced level of homocysteine can diminish headache severity, attacks frequency and migraine disability, too." [Pharmacogenet Genomics 2009; 19(6): 422-8.] "Therefore, pyridoxinesupplementation may improve migraine symptoms, through reduction of serum homocysteine concentration."
Source:
Iran J Neurol 2015; 14(2): 74-80.
More:
Magnesium, vitamin B2 and co-enzyme Q10 combo soothes migraine 26.09.2015
Magnesium supplement prevents migraine 26.12.2011
Archives:
Pain Reduction
B Vitamins
Vitamins
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