SynthesisNutrition journal2005
The treatment of migraines and tension-type headaches with intravenous and oral niacin (nicotinic acid): systematic review of the literature.
Synthesis in Nutrition journal, 2005. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 43 citations in OpenAlex.
- Associations between dietary intake of mitochondria-related nutrients with the risk of migraine: a prospective study of 202,656 participants.The journal of headache and pain · 2025Article
- Hallmarks of primary headache: part 2- Tension-type headache.The journal of headache and pain · 2025Review
- Niacin-Induced Syncope in a Middle-Aged Male: When an Over-the-Counter Vitamin Goes Wrong.Cureus · 2023Article
- The Safety and Antiaging Effects of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide in Human Clinical Trials: an Update.Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) · 2023Review
- Migraine signaling pathways: amino acid metabolites that regulate migraine and predispose migraineurs to headache.Molecular and cellular biochemistry · 2022Review
- Association between Dietary Niacin Intake and Migraine among American Adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.Nutrients · 2022Article
- Nutrients to Improve Mitochondrial Function to Reduce Brain Energy Deficit and Oxidative Stress in Migraine.Nutrients · 2021Review
- Brain Energy Deficit as a Source of Oxidative Stress in Migraine: A Molecular Basis for Migraine Susceptibility.Neurochemical research · 2021Review
- The metabolic face of migraine - from pathophysiology to treatment.Nature reviews. Neurology · 2019Review
- Diverse therapeutic efficacies and more diverse mechanisms of nicotinamide.Metabolomics : Official journal of the Metabolomic Society · 2019Review
- Review
- Niacin in the Central Nervous System: An Update of Biological Aspects and Clinical Applications.International journal of molecular sciences · 2019Review
- Potential therapeutic benefits of strategies directed to mitochondria.Antioxidants & redox signaling · 2010Review
- Comparison of oxidative stress among migraineurs, tension-type headache subjects, and a control group.Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology · 2009Article
- Does nicotinic acid (niacin) lower blood pressure?International journal of clinical practice · 2009Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMigraine and tension-type headaches impose a tremendous economic drain upon the healthcare system. Intravenous and oral niacin has been employed in the treatment of acute and chronic migraine and tension-type headaches, but its use has not become part of contemporary medicine, nor have there been randomized controlled trials further assessing this novel treatment. We aimed to systematically review the evidence of using intravenous and/or oral niacin as a treatment for migraine headaches, tension-type headaches, and for headaches of other etiologic types.
methodsWe searched English and non-English language articles in the following databases: MEDLINE (1966-February 2004), AMED (1995-February 2004) and Alt HealthWatch (1990-February 2004).
resultsNine articles were found to meet the inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review. Hypothetical reasons for niacin's effectiveness include its vasodilatory properties, and its ability to improve mitochondrial energy metabolism. Important side effects of niacin include flushing, nausea and fainting.
conclusionAlthough niacin's mechanisms of action have not been substantiated from controlled clinical trials, this agent may have beneficial effects upon migraine and tension-type headaches. Adequately designed randomized trials are required to determine its clinical implications.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.