Medium-dose riboflavin as a prophylactic agent in children with migraine: a preliminary placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blind, cross-over trial.
BACKGROUND
Riboflavin seems to have a promising effect on migraine in adults. The present study examines whether riboflavin has a prophylactic effect on migraine in children.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether riboflavin in a dosage of 50 mg/day has a prophylactic effect on migraine attacks in young children.


METHODS
This randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over trial included 42 children (aged 6-13 years) with migraine of whom 14 children were also suffering from tension-type headache. Following a 4-week baseline period, all children received placebo for 16 weeks then riboflavin for 16 weeks (or vice versa) with a washout period of 4 weeks in between. The primary outcome measure was reduction in mean frequency of migraine attacks and tension-type headache in the last 4 weeks at the end of the riboflavin and placebo phase, compared with the preceding baseline or wash-out period. Secondary outcome measures were mean severity and mean duration of migraine and tension-type headaches in the last 4 weeks at the end of the riboflavin and placebo phase, compared with the preceding baseline or wash-out period.


RESULTS
No significant difference in the reduction of mean frequency of migraine attacks in the last month of treatment was found between placebo and riboflavin (P = 0.44). However, a significant difference in reduction of mean frequency of headaches with a tension-type phenotype was found in favour of the riboflavin treatment (P = 0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
In this group of children with migraine, there is no evidence that 50 mg riboflavin has a prophylactic effect on migraine attacks. We found some evidence that 50 mg riboflavin may have a prophylactic effect on interval headaches that may correspond to mild migraine attacks or tension-type headache attacks in children with migraine.
Vlietland Hospital, Schiedam, The Netherlands. jbruijn@ssvz.nl
Jacques
J
Bruijn
Hugo
H
Duivenvoorden
Jan
J
Passchier
Heiko
H
Locher
Natascha
N
Dijkstra
Willem-Frans
WF
Arts
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018781:Tension-Type Headache / Q000453:epidemiology; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D012256:Riboflavin