Folic acid intake and migraines
A study by Australian doctors led by Dr. Lyn Griffiths confirmed a previous observation that higher dietary intake of
folic acid leads to lower frequency of migraine headaches. A 2009 study by Spanish doctors showed that patients with migraine with aura are more likely to have high homocysteine levels in their blood, a condition that can be corrected by taking folic acid and other B vitamins.
The authors of this new study have shown before that folic acid, vitamin B6, and B12 supplementation reduces migraine symptoms in patients with a certain genetic mutation (MTHFR gene), which leads to high homocysteine levels. However, the influence of dietary folate intake on migraine has been unclear. The aim of their current study was to analyze the association of dietary folate intake with migraine frequency, severity, and disability.
They studied 141 adult caucasian women with migraine with aura who had the MTHFR gene C677T variant. Dietary folate information was collected from all participants. Folate consumption was compared with migraine frequency, severity, and disability.
A significant correlation was observed between dietary folate consumption and migraine frequency. The conclusion of this study was that folate intake may influence migraine frequency in female sufferers with migraine with aura.
Good dietary sources of folic acid include spinach, lettuce, avocado, and other vegetables. If you suffer from migraine with aura you may want to ask your doctor to check your homocysteine level, as well as levels of folic acid and vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 level is not a reliable test because it can be normal even when a person is deficient and that is why it is important to check homocysteine level as well.
Folate supplementation is always safe, except when a person is also deficient in vitamin B12. Valproic acid, or rather divalproex sodium (Depakote) would be OK, but it is not one of my preferred drugs, nor is topiramate (Topamax) because of many potential side effects. Amitriptyline (Elavil) and beta blockers also have side effects, but often fewer and milder. Botox is by far the safest and it is also highly effective.
I am a migraine patient and I am homozygous for the MTHFR mutation. Because of associated mild hyperhomocysteinemia, I was prescribed Quadrifolate and B vitamin supplementation. Recently, my neurologist prescribed Valproic Acid as migraine preventative. Some studies suggest that VPA may disrupt folate metabolism. So I have been wondering whether Valproic Acid a valid preventative option for me. Would Amitriptyline or Topiramate be more appropriate? Is folate supplementation safe when combined with one of the migraine preventive medications? I could not get answers at my neurology practice. Thank you