Severe headaches that are accompanied by visual changes, sensitivity to light and sound, throbbing pain, nausea and possibly, vomiting are symptoms only migraine patients can relate too. A migraine headache can be triggered off by - foods, drinks, exercise, medications, stress, too much or too little sleep, bright lights, hunger, smells, and hormones, to name a few.
According to the Migraine Awareness Group the prevalence of migraines in women are double the rate in men -- 16 percent compared to 8 percent, respectively
Deficiencies in certain vitamins are the likely reason behind the development of migraines in children, teens and young adults, finds a new study by Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in the US.
The findings revealed that a high percentage of children, teens and young adults with migraines had 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. While girls and young women were more likely to have coenzyme Q10 deficiencies, boys and young men were more likely to have vitamin D deficiency. Further, patients with chronic migraines were more likely to have coenzyme Q10 and riboflavin deficiencies than those with episodic migraines.
Vitamin D deficiency apparently is more common than you may think. In fact, it is so common that The American Journal of Clinical NutritionIt called it a worldwide problem which is recognized as a pandemic.
"Further studies are needed to elucidate whether vitamin supplementation is effective in migraine patients in general and whether patients with mild deficiency are more likely to benefit from supplementation," said lead author Suzanne Hagler.
According to Bengaluru based Nutritionist Anju Sood, "Migraine can happen due to low protein, carbs, vitamins and minerals. And because of the deficiency of above mentioned things a person's enzyme activity reduces which causes migraine."
For the study, the team analysed patients with migraines who had baseline blood levels checked for vitamin D, riboflavin, coenzyme Q10 and folate, all of which were implicated in migraines by previous studies.
Many were put on preventive migraine medications and received vitamin supplementation, if levels were low. Previous studies have indicated that certain vitamins and vitamin deficiencies may be important in the migraine process. However, studies using vitamins to prevent migraines have had conflicting success.
The results were presented at the 58th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Headache Society in San Diego, in the US, recently.
