Are You Suffering From Migraines? The Role of Vitamin B Deficiency in Headaches

A migraine is one of the most common debilitating neurological conditions that comes with a myriad of symptoms beyond headache. These symptoms include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, etc. However, this range of symptoms can vary from one person to another. Have you ever experienced the kind of migraines that even painkillers didn’t seem to subside? Vitamin B deficiency could be the underlying culprit.

B vitamins are those water-soluble vitamins that perform a variety of functions in the body. These functions range from the generation of energy from food to red blood cell formation, DNA synthesis, etc. Read on to understand how vitamin B deficiency can trigger the onset of migraines.

Why Do Migraines Occur?

A migraine is a complex condition that involves the onset of a throbbing and severe pain usually on one side of the head. It is divided into four different phases;

• The Pre-monitory Phase:

  Surprisingly, this can start up to 72 hours before the onset of headache. It is associated with symptoms such as fatigue, light sensitivity, irritability, and sometimes depression. It can also lead to stiffness of the neck muscles. This phase could be caused by hormonal fluctuations or changes involving the hypothalamus, the control center of the autonomic nervous system. This explains why many women experience migraines during their menstrual period.

• Aura Phase:

  This is a reversible neurological symptom that occurs before or is accompanied by an actual headache. There are various types of aura common in migraines. These include: visual aura (i.e., blurred vision), sensory aura (such as tingling on one side of the body). There could also be language aura (which is difficulty with speech or language), and motor aura (weakness on one side of the body).

• Headache Phase:

  This type of headache is characterized by a pulsatile throbbing pain that is usually one-sided. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity, etc. This phase occurs after the pre-monitory and aura phase. It occurs because the preceding phases activate a nerve in the brain called the trigeminal nerve.  This nerve gives rise to three main branches: ophthalmic division (i.e., the eyes and forehead), the maxillary division (i.e., around the cheeks), and the mandibular division (i.e., the mandibles). Additionally, activation of the trigeminal nerve (by the pre-monitory and aura phase) further sensitizes the pain receptors in the brain. In turn, this then transmits pain and induces the headache and other symptoms of migraine.

• Postdrome Phase:

  This is the residual symptoms from the migraine previously experienced. For instance, you can have a migraine today and still experience a headache when you turn your head or stand up quickly, cough, or sneeze.  

How Deficiency in B Vitamins Can Trigger Migraines

When it comes to your nervous system, the B vitamins are indispensable because they contribute to the optimal function of your nerves. These functions include the synthesis of neurotransmitters, myelin sheath production, nerve regeneration after injury, and the buildup of powerful antioxidants such as glutathione, etc. Particularly, riboflavin (i.e., vitamin B2) preserves the function of the mitochondria, which plays a significant role in the onset of migraine symptoms. Thus, dysfunctional mitochondria lead to insufficient ATP production, causing energy deficits in neurons and contributing to migraine symptoms.

Additionally, vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is mainly known for playing a significant role in RBC production, DNA synthesis, etc. Beyond that, vitamin B12 is also involved in a critical process that occurs in the body; homocysteine metabolism. This involves the conversion of homocysteine to methionine, preventing its accumulation in the body. Thus, when you are deficient in vitamin B12, there is a buildup of homocysteine. This can enter the blood and cause endothelial injuries. Consequently, this triggers the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which leads to the onset of migraine.

Strategies to Relieve Migraines and Prevent Vitamin B Deficiency

Vitamin B deficiency can manifest in symptoms such as nerve issues, poor immunity, fatigue, numbness of the hands and feet, etc. This is also in addition to contributing to the onset of migraine and the severity of the symptoms. Therefore, to relieve migraine and prevent Vitamin B deficiency, you should do the following;

• Increase intake of Vitamin B-rich foods: These include foods like fish and meat, eggs, leafy greens, whole grains, etc.
• Use a Vitamin B complex supplement: Various factors can deplete vitamin B in your body, even if you consume a healthy diet. These include illnesses, issues with absorption, low stomach acidity (especially if you take proton pump inhibitors), etc. Therefore, you can get NATURE’SFIELD B-MAX, which contains all the B vitamins in the recommended dosage and helps you fill the nutritional gap.

Age and alcohol intake can also negatively impact the absorption of vitamin B in your body. It is one thing to take good sources of B vitamins; it is another thing to ensure proper absorption and utilization by the body. Thus, getting a recommended alternative like NATURE’SFIELD B-MAX helps prevent the deficiency of this crucial group of vitamins and significantly reduces the symptoms of migraines.