Did you know that migraines may be caused by an inadequate amount of vitamins in the body? According to a new research presented at the 58th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Headache Society in San Diego on Jun.10, the recurring headaches experienced by most children, teens and young adults are reportedly caused by slight deficiencies in vitamin D, riboflavin and the vitamin-like substance known as coenzyme Q10.
A team of researchers from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Center has analyzed data of young patients suffering from migraines. According to Huffington Post, they found a link between migraine and vitamin deficiencies, especially for vitamin D, folate, coenzyme Q10 and riboflavin. They also found that migraines affect women three times more compared to men.
Vitamin D, Riboflavin And Coenzyme Q10
Sunlight is the most common source of vitamin D for humans but it can also be found in some foods including fortified cereals, oily fish, liver and eggs. Vitamin D is important for calcium absorption and in the prevention of rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.
Riboflavin aka vitamin B2, on the other hand, is essential in helping the body release energy from the food the humans consume. It is also important for body growth and red blood cell production. It is commonly found in milk, rice and eggs, India Today reveals.
Coenzyme Q10, an enzyme naturally produced by the liver, is vital for basic cell function. Considered as an antioxidant, it is naturally found in organ meats such as liver kidney and heart. Other coenzyme Q10 food sources are beef, sardines, mackerel, spinach, broccoli and cauliflower.
Migraines And Vitamin Deficiencies
Based on the research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center's Neurology Division Headache Medicine fellow and lead study author Suzanne Hagler also found that girls and young women were more prone to coenzyme Q10 deficiencies at baseline. Boys and young men, on the other hand, were found to be more vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency.
Unfortunately, Hagler and her colleagues were unable to find the group where folate deficiencies were common, PR Newswire notes. As for patients with chronic migraines, researchers found they're more prone to have coenzyme Q10 and riboflavin deficiencies compared to those who have recurring headaches.
Vitamin Supplements To Prevent Migraines Remain Uncertain
There have been previous studies that suggested certain vitamins and vitamin deficiencies may be associated with migraines. Unfortunately, studies about the effective use of vitamins in preventing migraines have had inconsistent outcomes. In fact, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Center researchers were unable to determine of vitamin supplements are indeed effective in preventing migraines.
"Further studies are needed to elucidate whether vitamin supplementation is effective in migraine patients in general, and whether patients with mild deficiency are more likely to benefit from supplementation," Hagler said, as per Science Daily.
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