This article was originally published. June 17, 2016, and has since been updated
Headaches are common but for some people, they can seriously disrupt their lives. Many long-term headache sufferers avoid medications due to their side effects. New research shows that certain vitamins can help relieve headaches by addressing deficiencies. Here are some vitamins that have been shown to help relieve headaches.
Vitamin D
Research frequently finds a correlation between vitamin D deficiencies and headaches. Many experts believe that increasing vitamin D intake can improve sleep and relieve headaches.
Many different types of fish, including salmon and mackerel, are good sources of vitamin D. Mushrooms are also a healthy, low-fat source of vitamin D.
Vitamin B6, B12
High levels of homocysteine in the blood have been linked to headaches. One study found that supplementing with vitamins B6 and B12 significantly lowered homocysteine levels and improved migraine symptoms.
The best vitamin B6 and B12 sources are protein-rich foods such as meat, chicken, fish, eggs, pork, and soybeans.
Vitamin E
Menstrual migraines may be linked to deficiencies in vitamin E. One study found that vitamin E supplementation reduced pain severity and sensitivity to light and sound in women experiencing menstrual migraines.
Healthy sources of vitamin E include sunflower seeds, almonds, and spinach.
Keep Reading: Autoimmune disease may be prevented by vitamin supplements, study finds
Sources
- “What Is Migraine?” WebMD
- “Top Foods for Calcium and Vitamin D.” WebMD
- “Vitamin Supplementation as Possible Prophylactic Treatment against Migraine with Aura and Menstrual Migraine.” NCBI. Munvar Miya Shaik and Siew Hua Gan. February 28, 2015.
- “Vitamin deficiency and migraine: What to know.” Medical News Today. Louisa Richards. September 21, 2021
- “B vitamins and their combination could reduce migraine headaches: A randomized double-blind controlled trial.” NCBI. Shiva Nematgorgani, Soodeh Razeghi-Jahromi, Elham Jafari, Mansoureh Togha, Pegah Rafiee, Zeinab Ghorbani, Zeynab Sadat Ahmadi,and Vali Baigi. April 4, 2022.
