Systematic Review Suggests Nutraceuticals Containing Vitamin B2 Could Provide an Alternative Treatment for Paediatric Migraines.

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this review is to systematically summarise the evidence on the effectiveness of riboflavin (vitamin B2) or supplements containing riboflavin in preventing paediatric migraines.

Methods: This systematic review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and is reported to adhere to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We searched multiple electronic databases on 25 October 2023 to identify potentially relevant studies. Studies were screened, critically appraised and data extracted by two reviewers. Data underwent a narrative synthesis using vote counting based on direction of effect and was presented using harvest plots.

Results: Seventeen studies of varying quality were included in the review. Riboflavin or its combination with other natural ingredients was significantly effective in reducing migraine frequency (7/10 comparisons), migraine days (3/4 studies) and use of analgesics (3/4 studies). Mixed findings were found on headache duration in hours (3/5 studies), pain intensity (4/6 studies) and disability (3/5 studies). No negative outcomes and few side effects were reported (five studies).

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that using riboflavin at different dosages and treatment lengths offers a promising alternative to common medications for paediatric migraine prevention. Future research should explore mechanisms of action, optimal dosing and treatment duration using robust evidence.