Vitamin B and Folic Acid Supplements Stop Migraines

Increased intake of folic acid as well as other B vitamins may possibly lessen the frequency and severity of migraine attacks, according to a study conducted by researchers from the Genomics Investigation Center at Australia's Griffith University.

Migraine attacks are characterized by severe headaches, typically accompanied by sensitivity to lights, sounds or smells; nausea; vomiting; and pins and needles sensations. Eighty percent of migraine patients suffer from a minimum of one attack per month. Attacks can last as much as 72 hours, and may be so debilitating that patients turn out to be unable to function.

At present, migraines are treated with potent painkillers or anti-nausea drugs, with mixed outcomes. Other remedies consist of antidepressants and beta-blockers, each of which carry the potential for severe as well as dangerous side effects.

Within the existing study, researchers gave 50 migraine patients supplements of folic acid and vitamin B. According to researcher Lyn Griffiths, they observed "a drastic improvement in headache frequency, discomfort severity and associated disability for those treated."

The researchers suspected that B vitamins would prove successful since they're recognized to help regulate levels of the amino homocysteine. Genetic study has shown that a mutation or malfunction with the gene MTHFR outcomes both in elevated homocysteine levels and an improve risk of migraine. High levels of homocysteine have also been linked to a greater risk of cardiovascular illness and stroke.

The Griffith University team is now preparing to carry out a bigger study to discover out what doses work very best for individual migraine patients, also taking into account any genetic predisposition to migraine that they may possibly have.

Migraine is the most frequent neurological condition within the world, with roughly 6 to 15 percent of adult men suffering at least one attack per year and 14 to 35 percent of adult females. Among 12 and 28 percent of folks will suffer no less than one attack in their lifetime.