Melatonin vs Vitamin D for migraine frequency: which has better evidence?
Vitamin D has the stronger evidence for migraine frequency (Melatonin Grade C vs Vitamin D Grade B). For migraine frequency, Vitamin D has the stronger evidence grade.
Platform evidence comparison
These existing platform assessments are separate from the source-reported findings below. They do not represent a direct trial comparing these treatments.
| Melatonin | Vitamin D | |
|---|---|---|
| Grade | grade C | grade B |
| Certainty | low | moderate |
| Effect | Systematic review: melatonin showed promise for migraine prophylaxis, reducing attack frequency in several trials, with a tolerability profile comparable to or better than some standard preventives. The evidence base is small and heterogeneous. | Meta-analysis of 5 RCTs: vitamin D treatment significantly reduced headache days, attack frequency, headache severity, and migraine-related disability versus control in migraine patients. One of the more consistent positive signals for a vitamin D outcome in this dataset, though the evidence base is still just 5 trials. |
| Studied dose | commonly 3 mg at night in the trials | varies across trials |
| Population | adults with migraine, prophylaxis | adults with migraine |
| Safety | 1 modeled interaction(s) | 1 modeled interaction(s) |
Grade C / low: hints of benefit in small trials; a well-run RCT could easily push this to B or to null.
Direct comparison evidence
There are no direct RCTs in our corpus comparing Melatonin and Vitamin D head-to-head for migraine frequency. What we present above is an indirect comparison: each side's own trials, contrasted. This is standard practice for supplement comparisons — dose, population, and outcome-instrument differences between the two evidence bases add uncertainty on top of each side's own grade.
Can you take both?
No modeled interaction between Melatonin and Vitamin D in our corpus. Absence of a recorded interaction is not proof of additive benefit — combined-effect trials are usually absent for supplement pairs, so treat "stack" claims skeptically.
Decision guidance
- If certainty matters most — choose whichever side carries the higher certainty rating at a similar grade.
- If you're on medications — check each side's interaction pages before deciding; safety differences dominate small evidence-grade gaps.
- If your population is under-studied — the smaller-effect side with better population evidence often wins over the higher-grade side studied in a different demographic.
- If cost matters — form and dose page differences (Melatonin vs Vitamin D) can invert the practical winner.
Grade history
No grade changes yet. Initial grade assigned; re-reviewed on every 6 months (Grade C+) — next review by . Methodology v1.
Re-review cadence: every 6 months (Grade C+) · next scheduled by · methodology v1.
Frequently asked
Which has stronger evidence: Melatonin or Vitamin D for migraine frequency?
Melatonin carries Grade C at low certainty; Vitamin D carries Grade B at moderate. The stronger evidence points to Vitamin D, subject to the caveat that direct head-to-head trials are usually absent for supplement pairings.
Can I take Melatonin and Vitamin D together?
No modeled interaction between Melatonin and Vitamin D; combining is not documented to be problematic, but combined-effect trials are also absent, so treat additive benefit claims skeptically.
Have Melatonin and Vitamin D been compared head-to-head?
Direct RCTs comparing the two for migraine frequency are uncommon. This page contrasts each side's own trial evidence — that is an indirect comparison, which introduces confounds from population and dose differences. See the direct-comparison block above.
What decides between Melatonin and Vitamin D for me?
Read the decision guidance below — the split usually comes down to population fit, interaction risk with your other medications, and how much certainty you want behind the recommendation.
Related
Cite this page
Citation is encouraged. The proposed reuse license is CC-BY-4.0; status: pending-governance-ratification.
Plain-text citation
Substrate. Melatonin vs Vitamin D for migraine frequency. https://evidencebased.info/compare/melatonin-vs-vitamin-d-for-migraine. Updated 2026-07-14.
BibTeX
@misc{substrate_svitamindformigraine,
author = {Substrate editorial},
title = {Melatonin vs Vitamin D for migraine frequency},
year = {2026},
url = {https://evidencebased.info/compare/melatonin-vs-vitamin-d-for-migraine},
note = {evidencebased.info}
}