The effect of riboflavin on the mean attack frequency, severity, and duration of migraine headaches: A systematic review and dose– response meta?analysis of clinical trials

Abstract

Background: Due to the anti?inflammatory and antioxidant effects of riboflavin, this vitamin can be effective in improving migraine. However, due to conflicting results in previous studies, the present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of riboflavin in improving migraine in a systematic review and dose–response meta?analysis.

Methods: Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and PubMed databases, as well as Google Scholar, were searched up to March 15, 2025 to find trials, published in the English language, that investigated the effect of riboflavin on migraine. Quality assessment of trial studies was done using the Cochrane Collaboration tool. STATA software was used to analyze the data.

Results: The present study included 12 trials with a total sample size 749. The dose–response meta?analysis revealed a significant linear relationship, showing that increasing riboflavin intake up to 400 mg/day was associated with greater reductions in migraine frequency and duration, without evidence of a threshold effect (P < 0.001). Riboflavin had a significant effect on frequency (weighted mean difference [WMD]: ?1.39, 95%CI: ?2.52 to ?0.25; I2 = 91.7%, P < 0.001) and duration of migraine (WMD: ?1.36, 95% CI: ?2.69 to ?0.03; I2 = 90.4%, P < 0.001) in comparison to the control. In terms of  ethodological approach, eight trials had a good and four had a fair quality.

Conclusion: Riboflavin exhibits promising effects in reducing the frequency and duration of migraine. The limitations of the present study include the absence of a control group and the small sample size in some included studies.