Coenzyme Q10 supplementation for prophylaxis in adult patients with migraine-a meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) for reduction in the severity, frequency of migraine attacks and duration of headache in adult patients with migraine.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Psychological Information Database (PsycINFO) from inception till December 2019.

Study selection: All randomised control trials comparing CoQ10 with placebo or used as an adjunct treatment included in this meta-analysis. Cross-over designs and controlled clinical trials were excluded.

Data synthesis: Heterogeneity at face value by comparing populations, settings, interventions and outcomes were measured and statistical heterogeneity was assessed by means of the I² statistic. The treatment effect for dichotomous outcomes were using risk ratios and risk difference, and for continuous outcomes, mean differences (MDs) or standardised mean difference; both with 95% CIs were used. Subgroup analyses were carried out for dosage of CoQ10 and if CoQ10 combined with another supplementation. Sensitivity analysis was used to investigate the impact risk of bias for sequence generation and allocation concealment of included studies.

Results: Six studies with a total of 371 participants were included in the meta-analysis. There is no statistically significant reduction in severity of migraine headache with CoQ10 supplementation. CoQ10 supplementation reduced the duration of headache attacks compared with the control group (MD: -0.19; 95% CI: -0.27 to -0.11; random effects; I² statistic=0%; p<0.00001). CoQ10 usage reduced the frequency of migraine headache compared with the control group (MD: -1.52; 95% CI: -2.40 to -0.65; random effects; I² statistic=0%; p<0.001).

Conclusion: CoQ10 appears to have beneficial effects in reducing duration and frequency of migraine attack.

Prospero registration number: CRD42019126127.

Keywords: complementary medicine; migraine; neurology.