Food intolerance and food allergies in migraine

Some migraine sufferers may no longer need any medication at all with some changes in their lifestyle. If you can manage to find out which is the culprit of your migraine attacks you may be able to control and prevent them in a large number of cases. One of these culprits can be certain types of food that affect you. Migraine is determined by environmental factors and their interactions with the patient’s genetic constitution.

Food intolerance versus food allergies in migraine

It is clear that certain foods may trigger migraine attacks in some people, but even the amount taken, or time exposure can be different depending on the patient. Even worse, that specific food may only cause headaches or other symptoms occasionally. For example, a patient may have a headache when he or she eats chocolate, but it may only happen when he or she eats a certain high amount and in combination with other factors or types of food. Interestingly food withdrawals may also prompt headaches, as it is the case of caffeine for some patients. It depends on your genetic constitution and other several factors combined.

Food intolerance is far more common than food allergy, the first representing approximately 20% of the population whilst the latter is at the utmost 4%. The immune system may cause food intolerance as well as food allergies, but the mechanism is different, and here lies the key to this food problem some migraine sufferers face. Non-immunological factors are also thought to be involved in migraine attacks prompted by food intolerance.

When there is a food sensitivity what it happens is that the immune system of your body reacts releasing IgG antibodies that are supposed to defend you from the “intruder”, which in this case is a component of the food you are eating, just as it happens when a dangerous germ invades your body. IgG antibodies are the most common among the five classes of antibodies in the bloodstream. IgG antibodies are produced by plasma B cells. It may take even some days before you realize that your body is reacting to this “intruder”. This is the reason why it is sometimes so difficult to find out which one is the food that is triggering your migraine attacks. If you consider that it may be just some component of a particular food, then things become all the more so complicated. In tests the absence of IgG antibodies means that there is no immune response to a particular type of food. Therefore, those migraineurs that avoid taking foods for which IgG antibodies are tested positive should notice a significant improvement.

Food allergies are different because in this case the immune system releases IgE antibodies, which also defend you from potential harmful “intruders”. IgE antibodies are also produced by plasma cells and are present in the bloodstream in small quantities. Food allergies are a more serious matter because often the body’s reaction is immediate and in extreme cases it may even be fatal. Headaches in food allergies are less common as symptoms are more related to hives or inability to breathe properly, but headaches do happen. Other symptoms may include digestive problems, chronic diarrhea or constipation, runny nose, and fatigue. On the other hand, determining which food causes your migraine attacks is somewhat easier, but still some food allergic reactions are not accurately diagnosed as these reactions are often identified as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). IBS and migraine are considered to be related by some scholars.

CRLifeSc forms part of an affiliate program to maintain this website. Want to know what’s causing your food intolerance or allergy? – intolerancelab

The main migraine triggers

Many types of foods may trigger headaches even in people who are not migraine sufferers as such. The main problem to identify the cause is that not always the specific food triggers a headache or a migraine attack.

Foods that may trigger headaches include among others:

Wheat or gluten. Wheat is thought to be one of the commonest foods that prompt reactions.
Orange or citric products. Orange could be the second most common food for intolerance cases.
Eggs. Eggs are rated as the third most common food causing intolerance.
Tea and coffee. Tea and coffee are ranked in fourth positions as the one of the commonest foods that prompt reactions.
Wine. Allergic reactions are rare when drinking wine, but they may happen. Symptoms often include nausea and vomiting, which are common among migraine sufferers, as well as others such as runny nose, nasal congestion, rash, etc.
Aged cheese. Allergies in aged cheeses are often related to the bacteria and fungi found in rinds because they produce large amounts of histamine. Histamine plays a role in the immune system prompting inflammatory responses. These microbial components in the surface of aged cheese take part in the ripening process.
Cheese aging process
Chocolate. This is generally caused by a component in chocolate as allergies to cacao are rare.
Foods that are high in fat. The amount of fatty food eaten may affect certain individuals at different levels.
Dairy products. Lactose and casein are the common culprits for this type of food intolerance. Lactose is a type of sugar, and casein is a protein found in milk.
Dairy products could be the culprits of your migraine episodes
Beef. Some people are affected by beef intolerance because they may have been bitten previously by a tick which has formerly fed from other mammals. The tick takes in a carbohydrate molecule that is then transmitted to a person when being beaten, prompting the person’s immune system to produce IgE antibodies which are specific to this carbohydrate molecule that is present in beef, lamb or pork.
Bananas. The intolerance is linked to the latex, which also happens in nuts and other plant fruits. Some banana proteins are like latex, which often causes food allergies.
Corn. Some researchers believe that corn allergy is underdiagnosed and that the percentage of people who suffer from this type of allergy could be higher than expected reaching approximately 5% of certain populations. Corn contains a protein that is called zein that is thought to be the “offender”.
Sugar cane. Sugar cane is less processed than refined sugar, and some components that could prompt allergies may remain.
Sugar cane juice
Yeast. This is a fungus that is present in some types of food such as breads, muffins, croissants, biscuits, or some cereals that contain malt which has been fermented with yeast.
Bread yeast
Food additives. The best examples are aspartame and monosodium glutamate, which are known to cause migraine and cluster headaches.

How to deal with migraine food triggers

The usual way to find out which foods may trigger your migraine attacks is by using an elimination diet, which simplistically explained consists of removing those foods that you think could be the culprits to add them some weeks later one by one. This is not an easy task because in the case of food intolerance the food reaction may take several days after the intake with variable results, and thus the whole process may take too long. Your age, sex. genetics and environmental factors also play an important part in the outcome. You are strongly advised to do this under the supervision of your doctor or a dietitian because the elimination diet involves certain risks of malnutrition.

Scientists are working on the epigenetic diet. Scholars believe that it is possible to design a tailored diet for some diseases which could include migraine. These tailored diets target specific biochemical paths or molecules in your metabolism or even specific structures at a cellular level making use of the knowledge developed in epigenetics. The use of folate (folic acid) as a supplement has proved beneficial in migraine. This B vitamin takes part in DNA methylation, which is one of the main epigenetic processes.

CRLifeSc forms part of an affiliate program.

Ketogenic or low glycemic diets are often suggested by scientists and dietitians for migraineurs. Ketogenic diets are a type of epigenetic diets. In these diets, sodium intake must be personalized.

During the last years intestinal flora has become a center of attention and possible explanation for several medical disorders. Migraine is often associated to gastrointestinal problems that include vomiting and nausea. Probiotics could modify gut microbiota reducing gut permeability for pro-inflammatory substances that impact on the trigeminovascular system. Scientists are studying these products to be included in the diet for migraine sufferers.

CRLifeSc forms part of an affiliate program to maintain this website.

For vitamins and minerals that can help you to alleviate your migraine symptoms please click on this article.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not rely upon the content provided in this article for specific medical advice. If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to your doctor.

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

For market research professionals please visit the Anti-migraine Market Strategic Analysis

04/03/202127/01/2024

Migraine antioxidants and telomere lengths

Telomere testing and antioxidant supplements may help you manage your migraine. Telomere lengths are used as indicators for biological age. Migraine sufferers have also shown shorter telomeres which confirm that oxidative stress plays an important part in this medical condition.

It is estimated that migraine could affect between 6% and 28% of the population worldwide. This debilitating medical condition is mainly characterized by a throbbing pain in one side of the head. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and excessive sensitivity to light and sounds.

Telomeres as an indicator in migraine patients and as people age

The first thing here is to understand what a telomere is and how the DNA is built. We all have heard about the DNA and its importance in genetics. The DNA is formed by a sequence of nucleotides (adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine) in a kind of paired double helix inside a cell. In the case of humans, telomeres are extensions of DNA that are placed at the tips of all 46 chromosomes in each cell of the body. These telomeres are comprised of six nucleotides (TTAGGG) whose sequence is repeated over and over again at the end of chromosomes. T corresponds to thymine, A to adenine, and G to guanine. In biochemical terms telomeres prevent chromosomes from sticking to other DNA fragments and thus to other chromosomes. This task is particularly important during the process of cell division, which is known as mitosis in biology. The usual analogy is that of those plastic tips at the end of shoelaces that prevent fraying.

Still, it is not only length what matters when talking about telomeres. The shape and tridimensional structure of these DNA elongations are also important because these characteristics determine whether telomeres perform properly. The shape and structure must provide protection as if it were some type of fastener.

It seems demonstrated that migraine has a strong genetic component in most of the cases but the exact consequences at a subcellular level are not known. In any case, some studies have shown that telomeres are shorter than usual in patients suffering from migraine. This fact is important because it was previously demonstrated that telomeres are shortened as people age or suffer from chronic diseases or psycho-social stress too. Shorter telomeres in lymphocytes – a type of small leukocyte or white blood cell – show up even in early-life stress cases. It is also common to observe that maternal longevity is linked to longer telomeres in both men and women.

Following most of the studies, the conclusion is that telomeres shortening may be used as a good biomarker or indicator for some medical conditions. Some scholars suggest that this biomarker could also be used in psychology and psychiatry since psycho-social stressors also shorten telomeres.

Telomere testing may help you with your migraine

The telomeres length is always measured comparing it to the rest of the general population rather than an isolated quantity. This assessment must also be made comparing apples to apples, so to speak, which basically means individuals of the same sex, age, and other conditions. Women generally have longer telomeres. This indicates that telomeres length is pretty much like the height or body mass of an individual, which are personal characteristics. Genetic factors are thought to contribute 30% for the telomeres length. The way scientists compare these personal characteristics may give some hints about your health status and what to do with it considering that approximately 70% of telomeres length depends on environmental or external factors such as diet or physical exercise.

In the case of migraine, telomeres length is significantly shortened according to some studies, but there seems to be no correlation between telomeres length and the harshness and frequency of migraine attacks. In other words, if you suffer from migraine you will probably have shorter telomere lengths than you should have, regardless of the intensity and regularity of your migraine attacks. The variation of telomeres length in migraineurs is also noticeable.

Conducting a telomere length test every five or six months could help you understand whether you are progressing implementing the two most important recommendations that follow in this article, which are changing your lifestyle and a diet that fits your needs, which should be better run under the supervision of an expert.

Antioxidants help in your migraine treatment and biological age

Determining our biological age, in contrast with our chronological age, is always controversial as it implies knowledge about why and how we all become older with all its consequences. We all know of people who are 80 years old and still can do physical or mental things that people in their forties or fifties are incapable of. The reality is that we tend to think in terms of chronological age rather than biological age, and to a certain extent this is a mistake in most aspects of our daily lives.

Aging seems to be the result of several factors that are already known scientifically, and others which are yet to be discovered. So, the best thing to do is to tackle at least those factors that have shown to affect our biological age and therefore our health. Oxidative stress, glucose or even pre-programmed biological processes at a cellular level contribute to our bodies aging. About pre-programmed biological processes there is little we can do for the moment, though advances in biology and medicine are shockingly fast nowadays and we could be surprised in the coming years. But we can certainly do a lot regarding oxidative stress and glucose.

Oxidative stress happens when there is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants at a cellular level. These free radicals contain oxygen with an uneven number of electrons that make them interact with other molecules more easily. These interactions may cause undesired or damaging metabolic reactions that can also harm cell components. Oxidative stress is intrinsically related to the immune system and inflammation factors.

Oxidative stress also damages DNA and thus telomeres with more harmful effects because these portions at the tips of the chromosomes are not repaired so efficiently as the rest of the neighboring DNA. As we have mentioned above, science has already proved that telomeres length is associated to the aging process. Irrespective of any chronic disease, telomeres lose some nucleotides in each cell division, becoming shorter and shorter. However, chromosomes can afford to preserve their genetic functions despite some nucleotides loss due to the repetitive sequence of these nucleotides, but this is to a certain point, where cells can no longer divide.

The key to rejuvenate your tissues is precisely cell division. Cell division is conducted by DNA, and the more divisions the higher the probability of carrying DNA errors that may ultimately modify metabolic reactions in your organism. According to Leonard Hayflick, a Professor of Anatomy at the UCSF, cells have capacity to divide an average of 50 times. Therefore, once cells lose a significant amount of telomere length they senesce or deteriorate losing that capacity and accumulating considerable damage that can no longer fix. Consequently, we inevitably age. Nevertheless, that does not happen in all cells and tissues. In eggs and sperm cells for example, there is an enzyme called telomerase that keeps adding nucleotides to that repetitive sequence. Other types of cells may have telomerases that are still somewhat active and delay the deterioration process in cell division.

Telomeres not only prevent chromosomes from fraying and sticking to other chromosomes in mitosis, but also help chromosomes DNA to repair itself preserving its main biological tasks. In other words, telomeres also help to prevent cancer. Cancer is usually the result of uncontrolled cellular growth. This is the reason why adding telomerase to prolong telomeres to enhance cell division is a bad idea to rejuvenate tissues. Longer telomeres may cause uncontrolled cellular divisions. It looks that the ideal length is in-between, neither too long nor too short.

Leukocyte telomere lengths are shortened as people age, but this happens at a lower rate than other cell populations. This is the reason why telomere lengths are mainly studied in leukocytes or white blood cells. Telomerase activity is detectable in contrast with other types of cells in the organism. Oxidative stress, hormonal stress, and inflammation are three key factors that affect leukocyte mitosis or division.

Antioxidants prevent oxidative stress and assist in the protection of telomeres, and these substances can be found in food and nutritional supplements.

8 antioxidant supplements that could help in the treatment of your migraine and to maintain telomeres length

There are several supplements that have powerful antioxidant properties. These antioxidant properties include scavenging of free radicals and reducing oxidative reactions, which support maintenance of a heathier metabolism.

Scholars believe that oxidative stress plays a crucial role in how migraine evolves in patients. For this reason, an appropriate diet and antioxidant supplements may help in the prevention of migraine. A proper diet should include vegetables, fruits, and in general products derived from plants.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a powerful antioxidant that is generally supplied when you eat fruit and vegetables. You must be incredibly careful to preserve this vitamin in food as it can be eliminated in a high temperature and strong light environment. Scientists believe that vitamin C helps migraineurs to reduce neuroinflammation and frequency and severity of headaches.

You can purchase clicking on this link Liposomal Vitamin C in Life Extension Europe.

Vitamin B1 (thiamine)

Excessive alcohol consumption generally causes thiamine deficiency. Thiamine deficiency could lead to high levels of oxidative stress. For this reason, having this vitamin may be appropriate for heavy drinkers. In any case, you should consult your healthcare provider.

You can purchase clicking on this link BioActive Complete B-Complex in Life Extension Europe.

Coenzyme Q10

This lipid compound, also known as ubiquinone, also shows antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Apart from these properties, it takes part in DNA and RNA processes such as replication and repair, among other metabolic functions.

In Life Extension Europe you may purchase Super-Absorbable Ubiquinone CoQ10 with d-Limonene online.

Curcumin

This is an herbal extract which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, among other benefits. Curcumin is extracted from turmeric rhizome of the ginger family. It is mainly used as a food seasoning. Scientists consider that curcumin could be useful for migraine treatment. Some studies have shown that the joint use of curcumin and coenzyme Q10 in patients suffering from sporadic migraine reduce the frequency of migraine attacks.

In Life Extension Europe you may follow this link to purchase Super Bio-Curcumin� Turmeric Extract.

Ginkgolide B

This is an herbal extract with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties obtained from Ginkgo biloba leaves that is mainly used for depression, anxiety, and headaches. Ginkgolide B is often recommended for the treatment of migraine because it has shown positive effects on the modulation of glutamate transmission in the brain and memory.

Ginkgo biloba is also available to be purchased online in Nature’s Lab with free shipping.

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)

Tanacetum parthenium is a flowering plant that can be found in South America. This herb has been traditionally used in migraine treatment thanks to its antioxidant properties. According to some authors, feverfew has proved to be effective in migraine prevention decreasing the frequency of migraine episodes, but once again it may not work for everybody. This plant contains several active ingredients that could benefit migraineurs, but its best known is parthenolide. The problem with this herbal extract is that it may cause numerous side effects such as oral ulcers or allergic reactions, or even more headaches. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not use feverfew as there is not enough information regarding its safety. You are strongly advised to consult your physician before taking feverfew.

Magnesium

Magnesium is a mineral that takes part in the catalytic process of several enzymes, which include relevant ones in several DNA and RNA processes. For this reason, magnesium deficiency causes higher oxidative stress, and it is necessary as an antioxidant at cellular level. You can get more information about migraine treatment with vitamins and minerals such as magnesium having a look at one of our previous articles following this link.

Zinc

Zinc is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mineral that is naturally present in some foods and can also be taken as a dietary supplement. Zinc plays a major function in the immune system helping to reduce infection.

NatureS Truth Chelated Zinc Tablets 100 Tabs by Natures Truth
from: Universal Herbs Inc

A healthy lifestyle is an add-on to preserve your telomeres

Definitely lifestyle influences telomeres length often activating the telomerase enzyme. Ultraviolet rays exposure, a sedentary lifestyle, alcohol consumption or smoking contribute to deteriorate telomeres. Therefore, to keep the appropriate telomeres length, it is strongly advised to exercise frequently; keep a proper healthy diet; to reduce the daily stress; and if necessary, as a complement to a healthy diet you should take some supplements. You should consult your physician before taking supplements though.

Please read our article related to diets about food intolerance and food allergies in migraine following this link.

Physical exercise

Disclaimer

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

For market research professionals please visit the Anti-migraine Market Strategic Analysis

10/02/202127/01/2024

Can vitamins and minerals really help you alleviate your migraine symptoms?

For brevity in this article, we are focusing on the most relevant vitamins and minerals in the treatment of migraine, but other non-prescription supplements can be helpful in migraine therapy too.

Migraine is a neurological disease whose symptoms may vary in type, frequency, and intensity depending on each person, but most migraine sufferers will agree that anybody suffering from a migraine attack will do almost anything to alleviate them. That is how hard this condition can be in certain cases. The most characteristic symptom of migraine is an almost unbearable headache. Other symptoms that may appear include nausea, vomiting, difficulty speaking, numbness or tingling, and sensitivity to light and sound.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for migraine and the only thing we can do is to either treat it once it is triggered or much better prevent it from taking action. Therefore, vitamins and minerals will not cure your migraine, but they may certainly help some migraineurs in some instances.

Vitamins and minerals that may affect your migraine

In most cases there is scientific evidence, or at least a possible reliable scientific explanation, that certain supplements – not only vitamins and minerals – could help relieve migraine symptoms. In order to find an explanation of why these supplements may help we have to go to the etiology of the disease, that is its cause. Mitochondrial dysfunction – a mitochondria is an organelle in charge of supplying energy to the cell – is often offered as an explanation for migraine triggers. Inflammation in nerves and blood vessels is also suggested as a possible culprit. On the other hand, some authors suggest that antioxidants could help reduce levels of neuropathic pain which is due to oxidative stress. Scientists put forward other explanations for the possible origin of this condition which would make this article too broad. One single factor or a combination of all to a certain extent could explain the etiology (the origin) of migraine.

The good thing about migraine vitamins and supplements is that they are rarely dangerous for health and can be ideal for those people who want to avoid adverse effects caused by prescription drugs or by women with a baby on the way who would like to play safe. Still, consulting your doctor is always strongly recommended to find your appropriate therapy.

As it happens in most of the diseases, in the case of migraine more than ever you can say that no two patients are the same. For some patients, certain vitamins and minerals intake could be enough for migraine prevention, whilst for others, vitamins and minerals can be just an add-on to their usual medications. It is however important to note that some vitamins or minerals may not help you at all. What is even worse, those vitamins and minerals may even trigger or aggravate migraine symptoms.

CRLifeSc makes use of affiliate marketing to support its blog. If you are a migraineur, discovering your food intolerance may be of some help as your inmune response may trigger migraine symptoms.

Gold = 350 Foods & 350 Non Foods – $70.00
Retail Price: $84.00
You Save: $14.00
from: IntoleranceLab

In a nutshell, some vitamins may help you relieve the frequency and harshness of your migraine symptoms but not always works. That is why it is so important that a migraine sufferer visits his or her doctor for a proper diagnosis and an adequate treatment.

Vitamin D as a migraine vitamin

10 to 30 minutes several times a week of sun exposure to bare skin is enough to create vitamin D in a natural way in our bodies, but people with darker skin may require longer periods, particularly in the northern hemisphere where ultraviolet rays (UV rays) are significantly weaker in winter. As a general rule, the farther you are from the equator the weaker UV rays are. Vitamin D is also present in food such as eggs, tuna, salmon, soy milk, orange juice, or beef liver.

It is estimated that between 30% and 80% of children and adults worldwide have vitamin D deficiency, and several studies have shown a strong relationship between serum vitamin D levels and headaches. Approximately 42% of patients suffering from chronic migraine have vitamin D deficiency – whether this is the cause, the consequence, or just a sheer chance remains to be seen.

Some authors suggest that vitamin D protects the body from inflammation and keeps nerves healthy. This vitamin could also be involved in the release of dopamine and serotonin, which are two important neurotransmitters. Vitamin D seems to have proven to be beneficial for some patients suffering from migraine, reducing frequency of headaches. Appropriate levels of vitamin D (60ng/mL-80 ng/mL) also help uplifting sleep which at the same time may help to alleviate migraine symptoms. Still scientists do not recommend vitamin D supplementation for all patients unless they suffer from vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D levels affect the levels of magnesium as this vitamin can control as many as 200 genes taking part in its intestinal absorption.

Regarding dosage it is generally recommended a dose not higher than 600-800 IU daily for adults, and despite some studies suggesting that higher doses do not seem to have any adverse effects, 1000 IU per day are considered too high and may carry some risks for your health. Vitamin D is fat-soluble and as such it may be stored in your organism. Please visit your healthcare provider as the appropriate dosage may vary depending on several factors to be considered, including your own metabolism.

Vitamin D3 is regarded as raising vitamin D levels in blood more efficiently. You can also buy liquid vitamin D3 online.

Folic acid as a migraine vitamin

This is the synthetic version of the naturally occurring vitamin folate (vitamin B9). Foods that are rich in folate include vegetables, fruit and fruit juices, nuts, eggs, dairy products, and meat among so many others.

Folate takes part in the energy production process of cells degrading carbohydrates as well as in the process of producing red and white blood cells in bone marrow.

Migraines may be the consequence of folate deficiency anemia according to some scientists.

You should always consult your doctor before taking this vitamin, particularly in those patients that suffer from kidney disease, have an infection, any type of anemia or are alcoholic. The usual dose recommended is 2 mg. Overdose symptoms often include numbness, mouth or tongue pain, weakness, confusion, and concentration difficulty.

You can buy optimized folate online.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10 or ubiquinone) as a migraine vitamin

Most people obtain enough of this vitamin through a balanced diet (oily fish, liver, and whole grains, for example).

The relationship between coenzyme Q10 and migraine once again is questionable, but some authors suggest that coenzyme Q10 supplement could decrease the rate of headaches in migraine treatment according to some trials. Some studies suggest that women who suffer from coenzyme Q10 deficiency are more prone to have migraine headaches than men.

Coenzyme Q10 plays an important role in the management of energy in cells intervening in the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and it is an important antioxidant.

This vitamin could interact with anti-cholesterol drugs and may even cause insomnia, for which we strongly advise that you consult with your healthcare provider. The recommended dosage is up to 300 mg daily. You will hardly see the benefit of taking this vitamin before one month and often it may take at least three months to notice any improvement.

If you live in Europe we recommend this following site where you can buy Coenzyme Q10, also known as ubiquinone.

Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) as a migraine vitamin

Riboflavin is present in food such as eggs, avocados, milk, organ meats or cereals to mention a few. This vitamin intermediates in the production of cells energy and plays a crucial role as an antioxidant, iron absorption and activation of vitamin B6. Riboflavin is stored in small amounts in the human organism and it is important to note that it is destroyed by constant exposure to light and alkalis such as baking soda, and that boiling foods may cause this vitamin to be lost.

The way vitamin B2 works – what is known as its mechanism of action – in the prevention of migraine is at the moment unknown apart from what is mentioned above.

Some experts suggest that riboflavin can certainly lower the duration and regularity of migraine attacks. The usual dose recommended is between 200 and 400 milligrams daily.

Vitamin B2 intake rarely causes serious side effects and due to its water-soluble properties excess is easily excreted by the human body. Still high doses may lead to diarrhea, itching, lack of feeling or numbness, burning sensations, and yellow discoloration of urine.

Sulfa-containing drugs (some diabetes medications or sulfonamide antibiotics among others), antimalarial drugs, estrogen and alcohol may affect riboflavin metabolism. Some tranquilizers and antidepressants may also inhibit riboflavin activation in the liver. So, it is recommended to consult your doctor.

You can buy BioActive Complete B-Complex from Life Extension Europe on line.

Magnesium as a migraine mineral

Magnesium is absorbed through your intestine with your diet. Vegetables, cereals, and other types of food as well as coffee and tea generally provide you with the necessary amount of this mineral in a balanced eating habit. Magnesium also helps in the absorption of calcium.

Magnesium seems to help particularly those people who suffer from migraine with aura and those women who endure migraines with their menstruation. Scientists suggest that magnesium may help to relieve visual disturbances, nausea, vomiting and other symptoms which are characteristic of migraine attacks. You will hardly notice any improvement in less than three months in migraine prophylaxis (migraine prevention).

Magnesium may affect the absorption of some antibiotics, might decrease your blood pressure, and increase adverse effects of muscle relaxants, for which we always recommend consulting your doctor. The usual dose of non-food magnesium recommended is between 400 and 500 milligrams daily depending on the person, with lower dosages frequently recommended for women. High doses of magnesium are not generally dangerous as your body gets rid of excessive amounts, but still high doses may cause diarrhea, vomiting and other side effects. For those people who tend to suffer from diarrhea vitamin B2 may help to prevent it too.

You can purchase Extend-Release Magnesium here if you live in Europe.

Please have a look at our article related to the best vestibular migraine supplement.

Disclaimer

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

For market research professionals please visit the Anti-migraine Market Strategic Analysis

Blog search directory

21/06/201827/11/2023

Antidepressants could be expanded in the treatment of migraine

Antidepressants are often used for migraine prophylaxis, but their use is limited to off-license. A high percentage of patients not fully satisfied with their current treatments could justify more research to develop licensed antidepressants to deal with this medical condition.

Main use of antidepressants

The purpose of prescribing antidepressants is to help relieve symptoms of depression, anxiety disorders and other medical conditions that include migraine prophylaxis, at least used off-label. It is important to note that these medicines do not cure the disease but just treat symptoms.

The mechanism of action of these drugs is mainly based on targeting imbalances of neurotransmitters in the brain that could be part or a consequence of the origin of these medical conditions.

Antidepressants in the treatment of migraine

Migraine and depression may share modulatory factors

Chronic stress and depression are frequent in migraineurs and thus seem to share, at least in part, modulatory factors. Just in the United States 8% – 12% of people aged over 12 years old are using antidepressants, with females representing approximately three quarters of patients. It is estimated that around 22% of migraineurs may be suffering from depression, and it seems common that patients are diagnosed with depression or anxiety just after being diagnosed with migraine – this may be influenced by the fact that antidepressants are not always covered by health insurance to treat migraine as a first-line therapy, particularly in the United States.

Migraineur

According to many studies, it seems obvious that serotonin plays a relevant role in migraine and depression.

Serotonin, released from brainstem serotonergic nuclei, is thought to be mediated by its direct action upon the cranial vasculature. Vessel vasodilation seems one of the main causes that result in migraine headaches. Other scientists have suggested that serotonin could intervene in central pain control pathways or could be the consequence of cerebral cortical projections of brainstem serotonergic nuclei. Low levels of serotonin could make easier the activation of the trigeminovascular nociceptive pathways in conjunction with cortical spreading depression.

In any case, serotonin receptors (5-HT receptors) have been one of the main targets in the development of antimigraine drugs. There are at least 7 classes and 14 subtypes of 5-HT receptors, all with varied biological effects. 5-HT_1B serotonin agonists in blood vessels known as triptans are the most relevant antimigraine abortive drugs now. Still, triptans are also agonists at the 5-HT_1D receptor, which contributes to their antimigraine effect caused by vasoconstriction of blood vessels in the brain.

On the other hand, scientists believe that an imbalance in serotonin levels, particularly diminished activity of serotonin pathways, may influence mood in a way that leads to depression. It is important to notice that this theory has not been fully substantiated though. Some authors suggest that an imbalance in serotonin levels may not be the only cause to suffer from depression and that other factors may also influence, or even be the main cause on their own for certain patients.

SAMe (S-adenosyl-l-methionine), an amino acid-based substance produced naturally throughout the human body, has been postulated as a potent antidepressant that could also be useful to treat migraines due to its modulating effect on serotonin. SAMe has been available as a dietary supplement in the US since 1999, but it has been used as a prescription drug in Germany since 1989.

Studies and experts’ opinions may lead us to think that serotonin levels and imbalances may affect certain individuals under certain circumstances that may prompt migraine and depression or anxiety disorders at the same time. However, it is clear that serotonin is not the only cause for migraine and depression because not all people suffering from migraine have depression and vice versa.

TCAs and SSRIs are the main antidepressant categories used in migraine prophylaxis

Focusing on the prevention of migraine, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and selective-serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most often used categories of antidepressants because these types of product seem to block serotonin reuptake. However, more selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are not very effective in migraine prevention. Within the TCA category amitriptyline and nortriptyline dominate this segment whilst duloxetine hydrochloride is the leading SSRI drug for migraine treatment.

From a patients’ profiling point of view, as an example, a study showed that migraine attacks after use of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) was reduced in all NOS3 genotypes (nitric oxide synthase 3) patients, though there was no significant effect in intensity of headache. Researchers detected an inhibitory role in migraine generation, predominantly in patients with homozygous genotype, due to the decreased frequency of migraine attacks.

Nonetheless, a major concern in the use of antidepressants is their side effects. The use of amitriptyline conveys major worries about suicidality that may not be worth running the risk of their prescription. Patients also report suicidal thoughts with other antidepressants including SAMe.

Serotonin syndrome may also happen in patients that take triptans, TCAs or SSRIs abusively. Symptoms for serotonin syndrome include high body temperature, agitation, increased reflexes, tremor, sweating, dilated pupils, and diarrhea. Under extreme circumstances it may also include seizures and extensive muscle breakdown.

Anyhow, antidepressants should be avoided in elderly migraineurs and patients with comorbid overweight, epilepsy, or concentration and mental psychic performance.

The antidepressants market in the treatment of migraine

In the United States no antidepressant is officially approved to treat migraine, but just in the US market amitriptyline may be generating more than $10.0 million annually specifically targeting this indication at manufacturers’ level. Both nortriptyline and duloxetine hydrochloride combined may be around another $10.0 million. In Germany and the United Kingdom amitriptyline is estimated to have sales of approximately $1.60 million and $2.99 million respectively per annum for the prevention of migraine alone.

Some products containing amitriptyline are approved for the treatment of migraine in Germany. In the United Kingdom this active ingredient is used unlicensed for migraine prophylaxis according to the British National Formulary (BNF). In the United States it is used off-label.

Amitriptyline oral tablets and combinations with chlordiazepoxide, a sedative drug, or perphenazine, an antipsychotic drug, are off patent.

Nortriptyline oral capsules and solution and duloxetine hydrochloride delayed release pellets capsules have also lost their patent protection.

Medical devices may treat migraine and depression too

The connection between depression and migraine is also perceived strongly in the interest shown by some companies in the development and use of medical devices.

Patent publication number WO9400189 filed in 1992 by Cyberonics describes alleviation of migraine attacks by selectively applying by electrodes a predetermined electrical signal to the patient’s vagus nerve with an implanted neurostimulator device. Cyberonics markets the Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) Therapy System, which was FDA-approved in 1997 and received CE Mark in 1994 for the treatment of refractory epilepsy and treatment-resistant depression. However, this is just an example as there are a large number of patents related to medical devices describing treatment of depression and migraine that have been filed by many companies.

In Europe, electroCore’s nVNS technology has a CE mark for primary headache (migraine and cluster headache), bronchoconstriction, epilepsy, gastric motility disorders, and anxiety and depression with medical prescription. gammaCore-S^® is currently under study for the acute treatment of migraine.

The Fisher Wallace Stimulator received FDA clearance in 1991 for the treatment of insomnia, anxiety, depression and pain, and it is occasionally used off-label for the treatment of migraine.

Antidepressants in personalized migraine prevention may be profitable

In a more personalized medicine in the near future there may be opportunities to develop antidepressants to treat specific subtypes of migraines with ameliorated adverse effects. Understanding serotonin pathways better and improving patients’ genetic profiling will help to find better targets.

The development of a more personalized medicine will force existing products to find their market niches. Improving formulations of existing antidepressants that fit better specific genetic or biochemical patients’ profiles may be profitable for companies and advantageous for these patients. Covering these improved formulations with patents in order to trade them may also be interesting for small companies that do not have the economic muscle to market the product. Prices will be necessarily higher, but a number of patients will increase their quality of life. If these improved formulations are similar enough to the original approved active ingredient the approval process may be shortened and thus costs will also be reduced.

For more information about the antimigraine market in the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom please follow this link

Migraine Surgery — Migraine surgery is the only existing treatment option that can lead to a permanent symptomatic improvement. Surgical techniques and advances in the understanding of the underlying mechanisms are evolving rapidly. This book intends to familiarise surgeons with the concept of migraine headaches and explains the surgical deactivation of trigger sites, which consists of much more than the decompression of pericranial nerves.

07/03/201827/11/2023

CRLifeSc Insights has launched the most complete Antimigraine Market Report unravelling many opportunities and some threats

CRLifeSc Insights has produced the most complete market report for the Antimigraine Market. The report conveys a strategic analysis to 2022 for therapeutic drugs, diagnostics and medical devices in the United States, United Kingdom and Germany.

An overview of the anti-migraine market as accurate as possible in three relevant countries

In order to assess the market properly it is necessary to have an overview as complete and accurate as possible. Most of the reports available on the market just give partial views with a lack of adequate understanding for the whole picture.

The treatment of migraine offers many opportunities and some threats for healthcare companies. This report will make the reader an expert in this field.

This report is independent and economically unbiased and it is not sponsored by any stakeholder with an interest in the antimigraine market.

What you can find in this report

CRLifeSc Insights has conducted primary and secondary research involving more than 500 companies and institutions, more than 80 active ingredients and compounds as well as medical devices, and about 200 patents, to produce a report that contains 634 pages, 70 figures and 65 tables.

The structure and segmentation of this report makes an interesting and easy reading to reach conclusions and prompt adequate analysis and planning.

Who should buy this report

Investors, consultancy firms, professionals and any stakeholders in the pharma, diagnostics and medical devices fields will benefit from reading and having at hand this comprehensive report.

The Antimigraine Market. Therapeutic Drugs, Diagnostics, and Medical Devices. Strategic Analysis to 2022. United States, United Kingdom, and Germany.

Price: US $6,500