Abstract
Headache is the most common pain complaint in the pediatric population, with tension type headache (TTH) having a prevalence of 10–15% in children. Up to 70% of pediatric patients with chronic headache also experience sleep disruption, with a likely bidirectional relationship between headache and poor sleep. Treatment options include specific pharmacological approaches as well as non-pharmacological alternatives; nutraceuticals have the advantage of a relative lack of side effects. Exogenous melatonin has been shown to be useful and safe in improving sleep-wake cycles and quality of sleep in children, helping to regulate the circadian rhythm, with a secondary positive impact on headache. Supplementation with other nutraceutical ingredients, such as tryptophan, magnesium, and B vitamins, can have significant additional effects in children with primary headache, with or without sleep disorders. Tryptophan may reduce night awakenings and improve the efficiency of sleep. Primary headache has been related to low amounts of magnesium in serum, and integration with magnesium appears to be effective in reducing headache attacks without adverse effects. There are different observational reports and uncontrolled studies suggesting a possible synergistic effect for these nutraceuticals, but there is now a need for high-quality randomized controlled trials in order to confirm these positive preliminary findings.
Highlights
Published: 13 May 2021Primary headache disorders are prevalent and disabling conditions that can affect people of all ages, including children and adolescents, with a significant impact on schoolrelated and social activities as well as quality of life [1,2]
Headache is the most common pain complaint in the pediatric population, with more than 50% of children and adolescents suffering from headache at some point in their lifetime [3]
In this study we review the current role of non-pharmacological treatments, including melatonin, tryptophan, and magnesium, which have the potential to help reduce the burden associated with Tension type headache (TTH) in children and adolescents
Summary
Primary headache disorders are prevalent and disabling conditions that can affect people of all ages, including children and adolescents, with a significant impact on schoolrelated and social activities as well as quality of life [1,2]. Tension type headache (TTH) presents with bilateral mild-to-moderate pain, without nausea and phono- or photophobia [4]. It is usually an episodic condition with a prevalence ranging from 10 to. A recent study on a wide sample of pediatric patients applying the International Headache Society criteria confirmed that patients with TTH presented significant emotional difficulties [5]. Another recent population-based study showed that TTH was associated with decreased health-related quality of life [6]. In this study we review the current role of non-pharmacological treatments, including melatonin, tryptophan, and magnesium, which have the potential to help reduce the burden associated with TTH in children and adolescents
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