400mg of B2 reduce tension headache, but cause dizziness

[Algo]

We tried 400 mg of Now B2, for the usual tension headaches my wife gets. We know they are caused by trigger points in the neck region, mainly the occipitals.

She usually has to take paracetamol.

I would like to understand by which mechanism is B2 reducing the pain. Is it because it helps the muscles use energy?

And why would it cause dizziness? Low potassium?

 

[datadragon]

The contribution of inflammasome activation to pain signaling has attracted considerable attention in recent years. Nucleotide-binding domain (NOD)-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) is the best characterized inflammasome and there is emerging evidence of its role in a variety of inflammatory pain conditions, including migraine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34112082/

Riboflavin, vitamin B2, attenuates NLRP3, NLRC4, AIM2, and non-canonical inflammasomes by the inhibition of caspase-1 activity https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7645791/​

This research shows riboflavin (Vitamin B2) is a vitamin that disrupts NLRP3 inflammasome and the releases of IL-1β were attenuated by vitamin B2 (riboflavin) in a dose-dependent manner, whereas the other B vitamins had little effect. In this study they used pyridoxine B6 form and confirmed that pyridoxine form does not inhibit NLRP3, its the active P5P form (P5P) that does per the other research below. B2 is also involved in conversion to active B6, increases MTHFR https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12560354/ and https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11916749/ which can help lower homocysteine which also is inflammatory, and has many other functions, some covered here https://www.geneticlifehacks.com/riboflavin/ (that also mentions studies about riboflavin and migrane) and https://forums.phoenixrising.me/threads/b2-i-love-you.15209/ riboflavin-5-phosphate is an active form

The active form of Vitamin B6 (P5P) has numerous functions in the body, for example it prevents IL-1β production by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation and suggest its potential for helping prevent many types of inflammatory diseases driven by the NLRP3 inflammasome. (but not the pyridoxine form) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27733681/ but care must be taken in dosing especially if supplementation is ongoing as Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP or P5P) in many supplements contain too much per pill generally.

 

[Algo]

Thanks man, you should write a book just from all your notes. I would buy it!

 

[LINE]

B vitamins should be considered a family - e.g. they co-exist with each other but sometimes compete. Generally speaking, too much of one thing will push other aside. As @datadragon points out, B6 levels could fall with B2 supplementation, for myself, these 2 pair nicely.

But you cannot forget the other b vitamins such as B5, folic acid etc. It is generally best to use a baseline supplement that provides the underlying vitamins if you supplement with specifics. I bought a b complex from Whole Foods that does not contain PABA, that vitamin is problematic for me, and I would suspect for other ME people.