The net survey, carried out by the College of Otago in 2022, collected responses from 530 people. A majority of the respondents (82 per cent) have been ladies.
The respondents have been recruited by way of social media and different channels such because the Migraine Basis Aotearoa New Zealand (MFANZ), the patient-facing training web site Well being Navigator (now Healthify), the Neurological Basis of NZ and the NZ Ache Society.
The survey requested about a variety of migraine prevention approaches, together with pharmaceutical drug use, well being dietary supplements use, and complementary therapies use.
Findings of the survey, printed within the Journal of Scientific Drugs, confirmed that just about half of the respondents (49 per cent) have been taking a complement on the level of the survey.
One other 40 per cent mentioned they’d beforehand used dietary supplements whereas 11 per cent mentioned they’ve by no means used dietary supplements earlier than.
“Individuals with headache on 15 or extra days a month have been considerably extra prone to be at the moment utilizing a complement than these with much less frequent headache.
“Solely two per cent of individuals with high-frequency headache had by no means used a complement for migraine, in contrast with 13 per cent of individuals with much less frequent headache,” mentioned the researchers.
Amongst respondents who have been taking dietary supplements in the course of the survey, over half have been taking one complement, 38 per cent have been taking two and 11 per cent have been taking between three and 5 dietary supplements.
Magnesium and riboflavin have been the highest two mostly used for migraine prevention.
Two in 5 (42 per cent) respondents have been taking magnesium on the level of the survey, whereas one in 5 (22 per cent) was taking riboflavin.
Coenzyme Q10 got here in third with seven per cent utilizing it on the level of the survey, adopted by the botanical feverfew at three per cent, and butterbur at one per cent.
The researchers mentioned that magnesium and riboflavin have been probably the most generally used dietary supplements attributable to their degree of scientific backing and security profiles.
“The generally used dietary supplements amongst respondents have been those with the most effective proof and security profiles (magnesium and riboflavin).
“Dietary supplements which have not less than some proof for effectiveness in migraine prevention embody magnesium, riboflavin (vitamin B2), coenzyme Q10, feverfew and butterbur,” they mentioned.
Different dietary supplements used embody omega 3, vitamin D3, iron, vitamin C, lysine and multivitamins.
The decrease proportion of respondents utilizing butterbur could also be attributable to liver toxicity issues, whereas feverfew is just not beneficial to be used throughout being pregnant.
“Of be aware, there have been issues about potential liver toxicity with using butterbur, which has led some nations to withdraw this product from the market, and feverfew is just not beneficial in being pregnant.”
Though magnesium is probably the most used complement, it additionally has the best fee of discontinued use attributable to unintended effects or a scarcity of effectiveness.
On this case, 19 per cent of the respondents mentioned they’d stopped taking magnesium as a result of it didn’t work for them, whereas 12 per cent mentioned they’d stopped attributable to unintended effects or different causes.
For all 5 dietary supplements, the most typical motive for discontinuation was due to a perceived lack of effectiveness. Stopping due to unintended effects was a lot much less frequent, the researchers identified.
Nonetheless, the researchers additionally cautioned that it was tough to evaluate whether or not the perceived lack of effectiveness was attributable to causes akin to insufficient dosage or therapy length.
As such, they’ve beneficial to discover these two points in future analysis.
Most eager in making an attempt CoQ10
Out of the above 5 dietary supplements, most respondents have been involved in making an attempt coenzyme Q10 for migraine prevention.
Nearly one in two (49 per cent) of the respondents mentioned they’ve by no means used CoQ10 however wish to strive it.
Butterbur got here in subsequent, with 45 per cent of the respondents to make use of it.
This was adopted by feverfew, riboflavin, and magnesium, the place 41 per cent, 39 per cent, and 18 per cent of the respondents mentioned they wish to use it.
Though over 40 per cent of the respondents have been prepared to check out butterbur and feverfew, there have been additionally a considerable variety of respondents who’ve by no means used and weren’t prepared to check out these two dietary supplements.
As an example, 47 per cent of the respondents mentioned they’ve by no means used and didn’t wish to use butterbur.
Actually, the variety of respondents who weren’t prepared to make use of butterbur was the best among the many 5 dietary supplements.
The same pattern was additionally seen for feverfew, with 36 per cent of the respondents saying that they’ve by no means used and didn’t wish to use it.
The extent of resistance was lowest for magnesium, adopted by riboflavin, and CoQ10, with 10 per cent, 17 per cent, and 29 per cent of the respondents respectively expressing their unwillingness in making an attempt it.
Supply: Journal of Scientific Drugs
Use of Non-Pharmacological Approaches for Migraine Therapy: Outcomes from the Migraine in Aotearoa New Zealand Survey.
DOI: 10.3390/jcm14124023.
Authors: Imlach F, Garrett S.
