Vitamin B2 in the treatment of migraines 

Essential vitamins are vital for the body’s proper functioning. In certain cases, it may be advisable to use vitamins in significantly larger doses than the recommended daily intake. A great advantage of essential vitamins is that they seldom have any side effects; it’s hard to overdose them; and the body can get rid of excess easily. 

Vitamin B2 is transformed into vital coenzymes FMN and FAD. Among other benefits, FMN and FAD contribute to the brain’s energy supply. It’s been theorized that a lack of FMN and FAD leads to the development of migraines. Several studies found that a daily intake of 400 mg of vitamin B2 significantly decreases the occurrence of migraines. Let’s review some of these studies. 

The first successful treatment 

The first study where high dose vitamin B2 supplementation successfully prevented migraines was published in 1994. (1) Hilariously, half of the participants got 75 mg Aspirin to take with riboflavin because: the doctors believed that patients would be outraged by the assumption that a “mere vitamin” could help their migraines. 

49 participants were examined who had at least 2 migraine episodes per month on average. Follow-ups were conducted 3 to 5 months later to check the effectiveness of the therapy. The researchers considered the frequency and intensity of migraines. 

The frequency of the participant’s migraines decreased by 68%, and more than 80% of them experienced a minimum 50% improvement. 4 participants ceased having migraines altogether, and in the 3 months they gave updates following the study their symptoms have not returned

This study had no control group and all participants were informed about the type of treatment they would receive, therefore its evidential value is questionable. For this reason, the same group of researchers did another riboflavin test a few years later using the most reliable method of all, a randomized, controlled study. 

New study, similar results 

Participants had been tested before getting selected: they’d been receiving a placebo for a month, and the ones who did not have a migraine episode were not included in the study. Final participants received a daily intake of 400 mg riboflavin or placebo for 3 months. 54 people completed the study, 28 of them got riboflavin and 25 of them a placebo coloured with beta-carotene.  (2) 

All participants got a journal to log the number, duration and severity of their migraine episodes as well as all medication they used. At each consultation, they handed over their journals to the doctors who surveyed them about any further symptoms they experienced. 

In the group receiving riboflavin, the frequency of migraines  steadily declined from as early as the first month. By the fourth month, the intensity of migraines lessened significantly compared to the first month, and nausea accompanying migraines became less common. 

A proven recipe for many 

The study was one among many to prove that 400 mg of riboflavin is an effective migraine treatment. It's possible that if the study had continued for a longer period, the patients would have experienced a further decrease of symptoms. Even in its limited scope, the therapy was just as effective as treatment with migraine medicines, but with far fewer side effects. 

The effectiveness of riboflavin in select studies 

In a study published in 2004, supplementing 400 mg of riboflavin lowered the number of migraine episodes from 4 to 2 in a month; the amount of medicine was reduced from 7 units per month to 4.5. In this specific study, the severity and duration of migraines did not improve. (3) 

In another study published in 2009, participants received 200 to 400 mg of vitamin B2 every day for 3, 4 or 6 months. 68.4% of them experienced an over 50% improvement in the frequency of migraines, and 21% of them did so t in the severity of the episodes.(4) 

A systematic overview in 2017 shows that out of 11 clinical trials, high doses of riboflavin had a compelling positive effect in 5, mixed results in 4, and no effect in 2. 

Based on these studies, it can be stated that a daily intake of 400 mg is effective, while lower doses are proportionately less effective. (5) 

As always, consult your GP or pharmacist before you start to take high doses of vitamins for health issues.