Can vitamins and natural supplements help prevent frequent headaches?
Q. I have frequent headaches. I don't like taking pain relievers. I've been told that vitamins can help prevent headaches. Is this true? What about other natural products?
A. My first advice is to make an appointment with your primary care doctor. There may be a reason for your headaches. If he or she can find a specific cause, it can be treated. And your headaches might be cured. For example, morning headaches can be caused by sleep apnea. And sleep apnea is quite common.
Every day I hear about someone telling one of my patients about a natural cure. It's hard to think of any condition that's not been targeted by "natural remedy" enthusiasts.
Nutritional supplements are touted to correct everything from fatigue and forgetfulness to respiratory infections and impotence. There are some rare and important exceptions. For example, vitamin D prevents rickets and osteoporosis. Folic acid before and during pregnancy helps prevent spine abnormalities in newborns.
But there is no proof of benefits of most claims for vitamins, minerals, or other "natural" supplements.
Most headaches won't respond to vitamins, but migraines may. An older study performed by Belgian doctors treated 55 migraine patients with vitamin B2 (riboflavin) or a placebo (sugar pill). During the three-month trial, those taking the vitamin had significantly fewer migraine attacks. The study used a very high dose of B2 - 400 mg per day. That's more than 200 times the recommended daily allowance, but side effects were minimal.
In the natural product category, there is even better evidence for melatonin to prevent migraines. It doesn't help everyone, but it's worth a try. The usual dose is 3 milligrams per night before bed.
Other supplements that may help reduce migraine recurrences include coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), feverfew, and magnesium, according to results of a handful of small studies.
Of course, the most natural ways to help prevent headaches of any kind are lifestyle changes:
- Establish a regular sleep schedule.
- Reduce stress.
- Maintain a steady caffeine intake.
- Identify and avoid foods or drinks that trigger your headaches. Common ones include red wine, aged cheese, and chocolate.
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About the Author
Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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