Evidence supporting the use of: Beta-hydroxybutyrate
For the health condition: Migraine

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) is a ketone body produced during states of low carbohydrate intake, fasting, or ketogenic diets. Its use in migraine management has emerged from scientific investigation rather than traditional medicine. The rationale is based on the observation that migraines are associated with altered brain energy metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction. BHB serves as an alternative energy substrate for the brain, potentially bypassing these metabolic deficits.

Several small studies and case reports have explored exogenous ketone supplements, such as BHB salts or esters, for migraine prevention. A few pilot trials and open-label studies have suggested a reduction in migraine frequency and severity with ketogenic diets or exogenous BHB, but the sample sizes have been small, and studies are often uncontrolled or preliminary. For example, a 2021 open-label study (Di Lorenzo et al.) indicated that a ketogenic diet, which increases endogenous BHB, reduced migraine days in chronic migraine patients. However, direct evidence from randomized controlled trials using exogenous BHB for migraine is limited.

Thus, while the scientific rationale is plausible and supported by preliminary findings, robust clinical evidence is lacking. The current level of evidence for BHB’s use in migraine is weak to moderate (rated 2/5), and more high-quality, controlled studies are needed to confirm efficacy and safety.

More about beta-hydroxybutyrate
More about Migraine

Other ingredients used for Migraine

1,3,7-Trimethylpurine-2,6-dione
5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)
5-methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine
Albizia
Almond fruit
alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
alpha-lipoic acid
apple cider vinegar
ashwagandha
atractylodes
atractylone
Baikal Skullcap
balsam
banyan
bergamot
beta caryophyllene
beta-hydroxybutyrate
betony
Bifidobacteria
Black Hellebore
black seed
black tea
blackboard tree
Blepharis
brahmi
bupleurum falcatum
butterbur
cannabidiol
Carthamus
Chinese salvia root
Chinese silkvine
chrysanthemum
coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
cola nut
Corydalis
creatine
crocin
curcumin
danshen
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
docosahexaenoic Acid
eicosapentaenoic acid
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
feverfew
Ficus religiosa
Ficus simplicissima
fish
fish oil
flavanones
flavin mononucleotide
folic acid
frankincense
Gelsemium
ginger
ginkgo biloba
ginkgolides
Ginkgoside
goldthread
gooseberry
gotu kola
Hellebore
Indian frankincense
iridoids
ketone salts
kuding tea
kudzu
l-5-methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine salt (5-MTHF)
lavender
lemon balm
Lesser speargrass
linalool
little ironweed
luteolin
magnesium
Meadowsweet
Melatonin
Mesua
Methylxanthine
Moringa
Nardostachys
Niacin (vitamin B3)
Night jessamine
omega-3 fatty acids
Osthole
paeoniflorin
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)
Peppermint
Petasines
Phthalides
phytocannabinoids
pine bark
Polygonum
Puerarin
purple butterbur root
Pycnogenol
Rauvolfia
riboflavin (vitamin B2)
Rubiaceae
Rubus
rue
Salmon Oil
Sandalwood
Scabrous Gentian
Sensitive Plant
soursop
specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs)
Spikenard
Swertia
Szechuan lovage
turmeric
ubiquinol
Uncaria
Valerian root
vitamin B6
vitamin D
vitamin D3
vitamin E
Withanolides
Xanthine
Xanthone
Xanthophyll
Yuzu
Zinc
Zingerone

Products containing beta-hydroxybutyrate

We currently have no products on Vitabase that contain this ingredient.