VitalChild - Folic Acid, B6 and B12 may reduce Childhood Migraines

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Folic Acid, B6 and B12 may reduce Childhood Migraines
source: wegohealth.com by Ellen Schnakenberg Date: 02/08/08

Could taking a simple vitamin relieve your migraine symptoms, or even act as a preventive for your migraine attacks?

Below you will find part of the PubMed abstract (condensed version) of a study
using Folic Acid in a specific group of 16 children to see if it would affect their migraine attacks. The study states that they were able to use this simple vitamin to obtain “a resolution/reduction of migraine attacks.”

MTHFR - this is a key enzyme that regulates the way the body is able to use folate (folic acid). It has been found that some people have a genetic variant that makes them unable to use folic acid as readily as most people, making their bodies act as if they don’t have enough Folic Acid.

Hyperhomocysteinemia- Homocysteine is a naturally occurring molecule in the body and it is required in several reactions that occur within the cells that make up the human body. Unfortunately, homocysteine is also very damaging to our systems and can cause inflammation and extensive tissue damage including cardiovascular tissues. Too much homocysteine is often found in people with heart and blood vessel disease and strokes.

Three enzymes are involved in Hyper (too high) homocysteinemia. These enzymes are methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) and methionine synthase (MS). Don’t let those big words scare you. I know this seems confusing, but really it’s not. I’m just going to use the abbreviations.

There are 3 vitamins that are responsible for MTHFR, CSB and MS (the 3 key enzymes). Those vitamins are B12 (responsible for MTHFR) Vitamin B6 (responsible for CBS) and Folic Acid (responsible for MS).

Essentially, what this study is saying, is that they took children they already knew (previously tracked) reliably had migraine, homocysteine levels that were too high, and elevated homocysteine levels due to previously diagnosed enzyme difficulties, gave them doses of Folic Acid and kept records of the migraine attacks those children got after they received the vitamins.

The results showed that the children were helped by the folic acid, both during a migraine and in preventing further migraine attacks.

Folic Acid is used in the treatment of Hyperhomocysteinemia, as are vitamins B12 and B6. As we’ve learned, all these vitamins are necessary for the conversion of Homocysteine into something else that the body can use. If the body is using the damaging homocysteine, it (the homocysteine) is no longer there to create inflammation and damage to the tissues.

This study gives some evidence that Folic Acid can be used in some people to help their migraine attacks, both during and as a preventive. Because B12 and B6 are also components in the conversion of Homocysteine, I believe that it might also be helpful in the conversion of homocysteine and therefore the regulation and resolution of migraine headaches. I am a Case in point:

I have had severe migraines which became intractable (don’t go away). Testing and finding out that I have Vitamin B6 and B12 deficiencies led to supplementation of high doses of B12 and B6 and a dramatic change in my migraine attacks. Testing found that my folic acid levels were near optimum ranges, thereby relieving me of the need to supplement that vitamin as well. No homocysteine levels have ever been taken unfortunately, illustrating the lack of understanding of these basic vitamins by medical personnel. I have had 10-15 doctors treating my migraine attacks, but none ever made the vitamin connection in all these years, even in response to my requesting the tests. I was told that I “look too good” to be deficient.

Based on this study as well as my own experience, my personal hypothesis is that mildly elevated homocysteine levels result in inflammation and damage of tissues and blood vessels within the body and brain, and can trigger a migraine attack and the resultant pain and symptoms usually associated with the cascade of migraine. Treating the homocysteinemia with B6, B12 and Folic Acid may, in some individuals, result in lowered homocysteine levels and a resultant reduction in the number and severity of migraine attacks, and the resolution of some attacks already in progress.

I agree with the authors of the study that further testing is certainly warranted. The question remains: Who will step up to the plate and do the studies for us?

Efficacy of folic acid in children with migraine, hyperhomocysteinemia and MTHFR polymorphisms.
Di Rosa G, Attinà S, Spanò M, Ingegneri G, Sgrò DL, Pustorino G, Bonsignore M, Trapani-Lombardo V, Tortorella G.

Department of Medical and Surgical Pediatrics, Unit of Infantile Neuropsychiatry, University Hospital of Messina, Messina, Italy.

MTHFR gene variants C677T and A1298C seem to be related to an increased risk of migraine. Folates’ metabolism could play a role in the pathophysiology of migraine. We supplemented 16 children with migraine, hyperhomocysteinemia, and MTHFR polymorphisms with folic acid and obtained a resolution/reduction of migraine attacks. Although the mechanism leading to these effects has been not made clear, we believe that the use of folic acid needs further investigations in migraineurs with hyperhomocysteinemia and MTHFR variants. A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled crossover trial is needed to support these findings.

PMID: 17927652 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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Ellen Schnakenberg
WEGO Health Community Moderator
Headache and Migraine

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