Vitamin Deficiencies linked to Migraines: Study

Washington : A high percentage of children, teens and young adults with migraines may have mild vitamin D deficiencies, a new study suggests.

The findings showed that mild deficiencies in vitamin D, riboflavin and coenzyme Q10 a vitamin like substance found in every cell of the body that is used to produce energy for cell growth and maintenance may be involved in patients who experience migraines.

Suzanne Hagler and colleagues from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Centre in the US conducted a study on patients with migraines who had baseline blood levels checked for vitamin D, riboflavin, coenzyme Q10 and folate, all of which were implicated in migraines, to some degree, by previous and sometimes conflicting studies.

Many were put on preventive migraine medications and received vitamin supplementation, if levels were low.

Researchers found that girls and young woman were more likely than boys and young men to have coenzyme Q10 deficiencies at baseline. Boys and young men were more likely to have vitamin D deficiency.

Patients with chronic migraines were more likely to have coenzyme Q10 and riboflavin deficiencies than those with episodic migraines, researchers said.