Headaches and migraines may be linked to dietary supplements

Association is not necessarily causation! JR

A study discusses how much more likely a person is to get migraines or headaches based on the type of dietary supplement they take and their gender.

The study aims to examine the prevalence of headache or migraine complaints and the use of dietary supplements, and to determine their correlation according to sex. This population–based study confirmed sex–specific associations between headache or migraine complaints and the use of dietary supplements, warranting further investigation of the underlying causes.

Methods

• This population-based cross-sectional study used data from a 2005 National Health Interview Survey of 15,414 participants (age 18-65 years) in Taiwan.
• Prevalence of headache or migraine complaints was accessed by a single question on their occurrence during the previous 3 months.
• Dietary supplement use was evaluated by another single question.
• Data were stratified by sex and analyzed using independent t-test, chi-square test, and multivariate logistic regression.

Results

• The prevalence of headache or migraine complaints was 17.2% in males and 32.4% in females.
• The percentage of women taking supplements was 31.8%, which was much higher than the 15.5% of men.
• In male supplement users, use of isoflavones had a significantly higher odds ratio (OR) of headache or migraine complaint compared with those of male without use of isoflavones (adjusted OR = 3.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.68-8.85).
• In females, vitamin B complex, vitamin C, and green algae supplement use had higher likelihoods of headache or migraine complaint in comparison to those of female without use of supplements (adjusted OR = 1.28, 1.21, and 1.43; 95% CI = 1.05-1.57, 1.03-1.42, and 1.07-1.90, respectively).

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Study: Vitamin B and folic acid may help Migraine

An Australian study showed that vitamin B and folic acid supplements can reduce the severity and frequency of migraine headaches.

I welcome news of added treatments but I worry about announcing findings BEFORE research is completed. odd. JR

In a relief to migraine sufferers, Australian scientists have claimed that Vitamin B and folic acid supplements can treat severe headaches.

Researchers from Griffith University are on the final phase of this study to determine the most effective vitamin B and folic acid dosage required to treat this debilitating condition.

They have recruited women aged between 18 and 65 who suffer at least four migraine episodes a year, as they are three times more likely than men to experience migraines.

Queensland researcher Bridget Maher said the remedy would help the 20 per cent of migraine sufferers whose condition is genetic.

"It basically reduces the frequency and severity of the migraines," she was quoted as saying by AAP.

One in five people prone to migraines have an enzyme that doesn't work as well as other people, she said adding "By supplementing them with vitamin B and folate you can get around that enzyme's defect."

Migraines linked to genetics are associated with auras, which refers to the experiencing temporary neurological disturbances such as seeing stars, getting pins and needles and numbness.

The team at Griffith is working on the correct dose of the supplements and Maher said the treatment could be available in the market by next few years.

Some people don't respond to current migraine remedies so the new research could significantly help those with a genetic predisposition to the condition.

About 12 per cent of the population suffers from severe headaches, which can last up to three days and make people painfully sensitive to light and sound

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