Retrospective Observational Study on Riboflavin Prophylaxis in Child and Adolescent Migraine

We evaluated the efficacy of riboflavin in pediatric migraineurs.

A retrospective observational study was performed on 42 patients (aged six to 18 years) with migraine who were evaluated from January to December 2019 at Dell Children's Medical Center in Austin, Texas. Weight-based dosing of riboflavin was recommended for migraine prevention. Descriptive statistics were used to study the population demographics. Nonparametric tests were used for inferential statistics to study the effect of riboflavin on headache frequency, intensity, and duration.

Patients treated with riboflavin had a significant reduction in headache days per month (frequency) at the first follow-up visit at 2 to 4 months (T1) (11.07 ± 10.52 days) compared with the baseline T0 (21.90 ± 9.85 days); P < 0.001 in regard to the primary outcome in 42 patients (mean age, 13.38 ± 3.38). Mean headache intensity decreased from 8.85 (±6.41; T0) to 2.30 (±2.51; T1); P < 0.001 on a 0 to 10 scale. The headache duration also reduced significantly from 18.23 ± 17.07 hours (T0) to 10.18 ± 10.49 hours (T1); P = 0.001. There was a positive correlation between riboflavin efficacy and reduced use of acute medications (r_s = 0.304; P = 0.05). Riboflavin was useful in reducing the frequency and intensity in two patients with new daily persistent headache.

Patients treated with riboflavin had a reduction in headache frequency, use of acute medications, and days of school missed. Riboflavin prophylaxis also reduced migraine intensity and duration. Riboflavin is recommended as a safe, inexpensive, and effective nutraceutical in the treatment of pediatric migraine.