My Secret Defender: Riboflavin

For years I have suffered from migraines. Like clockwork, about 12 hours before the onset of my menses I get a migraine behind one or both of my eyes which spreads all over my head within a few hours if left unchecked. Two instances I have experienced auras and nausea. Since my mother had a stroke a couple years ago, this new family history coupled with my regular migraines put me in a high risk category for stroke. Good news is I keep active, exercise regularly and do not smoke. Bad news is sometimes even a healthy lifestyle can't stop genetic programming. I feel like I'm a time bomb set to go off without warning. With two young children, I want to do everything I can to reduce the likelihood of my suffering a stroke.

I am informed. I have read about strokes on the internet. I communicate with my GYN and my family practitioner regularly. Both have recommended increased calcium (good thing I love my milk!), a low dose aspirin...and a supplement of riboflavin. I looked it up and studies suggest that this common B Vit enhances mitochondrial energy production in the body's cells--specifically cerebral blood vessel cells. It turns out that scientists have discovered that dysfunctional mitochodia have a proven role in the onset of migraines. It was worth a shot. But finding a B2 supplement/Riboflavin proved difficult and not common. I have added a B-complex supplement since April.

I have noticed results. My cycle in April came and the headache was delayed and not as severe. In May, I had a slight headache--as though, I thought, that I was not getting enough sleep. It was not the classic migraine I feel before menses. And now I actually have to keep track on a calendar again rather than wait for the migraine to tell me to plug it up in time.