Certain multispecies probiotic mixtures and co-supplementation of probiotics with vitamin D have shown potential benefits in reducing migraine frequency and severity, but specific probiotic strains for migraine relief are not consistently identified across studies.
What the research shows
High-quality randomized controlled trials indicate that multispecies probiotic mixtures can reduce migraine frequency, severity, and medication use in both episodic and chronic migraine patients. Co-supplementation of probiotics with vitamin D also showed improvements in migraine characteristics. However, meta-analyses report mixed results, with some showing no significant effect of probiotics on migraine frequency or severity, possibly due to heterogeneity and limited number of studies. Synbiotic supplementation (combining probiotics and prebiotics) may reduce migraine frequency and inflammatory markers in women with migraine. The specific probiotic strains used in these studies are often multispecies mixtures without detailed strain identification, limiting strain-specific recommendations. Some evidence suggests that Lactobacillus casei Shirota may improve vestibular migraine symptoms. Overall, probiotics appear promising as adjunctive interventions for migraine management, but further research is needed to identify optimal strains, dosages, and treatment durations.
Best studied probiotic strains
Multispecies probiotic mixtures
Evidence supports benefit but lacks strain-specific clarity; further research needed.
Probiotic plus vitamin D co-supplementation
Effectiveness may be due to combined action; probiotic strains unspecified.
Lactobacillus casei Shirota
Specific strain with evidence for vestibular migraine; further studies needed for broader migraine types.
Synbiotic (probiotic + prebiotic) mixtures
Combination therapy shows promise; strain details limited.
Who may benefit
Safety
Probiotic supplementation in the reviewed studies was generally well tolerated with no significant adverse effects reported. However, safety data specific to migraine populations are limited and further research is needed to confirm long-term safety.
Limitations
Most studies used multispecies probiotic mixtures without specifying individual strains, limiting strain-specific recommendations. Meta-analyses show mixed results due to heterogeneity, small sample sizes, and methodological differences. The role of vitamin D co-supplementation complicates attribution of effects solely to probiotics. More large-scale, well-designed RCTs with standardized migraine outcomes and strain-specific interventions are needed.
PubMed sources
| Study | Type | Year | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effects of probiotic and vitamin D co-supplementation on clinical symptoms, mental health, and inflammation in adult patients with migraine headache: a randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. BMC medicine |
Randomized Controlled Trial | 2024 | 39394141 |
| The effects of a multispecies probiotic supplement on inflammatory markers and episodic and chronic migraine characteristics: A randomized double-blind controlled trial. Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache |
Randomized Controlled Trial | 2019 | 30621517 |
| Effects of probiotic and vitamin D co-supplementation on migraine index, quality of life, and oxidative stress in adults with migraine headache: a randomized triple-blinded clinical trial. European journal of nutrition |
Randomized Controlled Trial | 2025 | 40360751 |
| Effect of synbiotic supplementation on migraine characteristics and inflammatory biomarkers in women with migraine: Results of a randomized controlled trial. Pharmacological research |
Randomized Controlled Trial | 2021 | 33989763 |
| The probiotic Shirota attenuates symptoms of vestibular migraine: a randomised placebo-controlled double-blind clinical trial. Beneficial microbes |
Randomized Controlled Trial | 2020 | 32865025 |
| Gut microbiota, probiotics, and migraine: a clinical review and meta-analysis. Journal of oral & facial pain and headache |
Meta-analysis | 2025 | 41070562 |
| Effect of probiotic supplementation on migraine prophylaxis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutritional neuroscience |
Meta-analysis | 2022 | 32420827 |