Evidence suggests that vitamin B12 (cobalamin) may play a role in reducing the frequency and severity of migraines. Here are some key findings:

1. Hyperhomocysteinemia and Endothelial Damage:

   • Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to hyperhomocysteinemia, which is associated with increased levels of free oxygen radicals that cause endothelial cell damage and may trigger migraines¹².

2. Correlation with Migraine Pathogenesis:

   • Higher vitamin B12 intake has been inversely correlated with the incidence of migraines. A Mendelian randomization analysis indicated that increased vitamin B12 intake leads to lower odds of developing migraines².

3. Levels in Migraine Patients vs. Controls:

   • Migraine patients often have significantly lower serum levels of vitamin B12 compared to healthy controls³⁴. A case-control study found that those with lower vitamin B12 and higher methylmalonic acid (a marker for B12 deficiency) had higher odds of experiencing migraines⁴.

4. Supplementation Studies:

   • A randomized, double-blind controlled trial indicated that vitamin B12 supplementation, along with other B vitamins (such as B1, B6, and B9), reduced the frequency and severity of migraine attacks and improved migraine-related disability scores⁵.

In summary, vitamin B12 may help reduce migraine frequency and severity, likely through its role in reducing homocysteine levels and mitigating endothelial damage. Further large-scale and long-term studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

Footnotes

1. A study on the correlation between vitamin B12 levels and migraine ↩

2. Modifiable factors for migraine prophylaxis: A mendelian randomization analysis ↩ ↩²

3. Serum Vitamin B12 and Methylmalonic Acid Status in Migraineurs: A Case-Control Study ↩

4. Utilization of B12 for the treatment of chronic migraine ↩ ↩²

5. B vitamins and their combination could reduce migraine headaches ↩