Morgan Stone
08-03-2004, 10:12 AM
Here's an article on preventing migraines located at :
http://www.personalmd.com/news/a1998022303.shtml
Vitamin B2 Helps Prevent Migraines
NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Taking a high dose of vitamin B2 (riboflavin) every day may help prevent migraines, according to a report in the journal Neurology.
Vitamin B2 may provide an attractive alternative to existing migraine therapies due to its low cost, beneficial effect and lack of side-effects, say Belgian researchers.
Vitamin B2 is required for cells to efficiently use energy. When it is not available, the energy "powerhouses" of the cell, the mitochondria, cannot function properly -- and in some patients, this may trigger migraine. Previous reports have suggested that migraine patients' brains have reduced energy reserves between attacks.
In a controlled study sponsored by the Belgian Migraine Society, 55 migraine patients received 400 milligrams (mg) of B2 daily for three months. Patients recorded their experiences, including number of migraines, how long they lasted, and the severity of the attack.
Patients on vitamin B2 had 37% fewer migraines. The effect of vitamin B2 was "most pronounced on attack frequency and the number of days with migraine headache," while it had only a "marginal" improvement over placebo in decreasing the severity of migraines.
"The effect of riboflavin begins after 1 month but is maximal only after 3 months of treatment," write the team, led by Dr. Jean Schoenen of the University of Liege in Belgium. "Whether efficacy of riboflavin may increase further beyond 3 months of treatment remains to be determined," note the authors.
In a statement issued by the American Academy of Neurology, Schoenen said riboflavin may work best for those who have moderate migraine headaches a few times a month. Study co-author Dr. Marc Lenaerts of the University of Oklahoma advises migraine patients interested in taking riboflavin to discuss it with their physician. A prescription would be needed for the high dosage of the vitamin.
Migraine affects 26 million Americans, affecting their ability to function at work and at home. Migraine sufferers experience blinding pain usually accompanied by vertigo, nausea and vomiting, and an extreme sensitivity to light.
SOURCE: Neurology (1998;50:466-470)
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Here's a short list of some foods that can trigger migraines too. If you avoid some of them, it might help. Alot of these are also harmful to the bladder.
Chocolate
Caffeine in soda, tea, and coffee
Cheese and cheese products, especially blue cheese and smoked cheese
Meats which are processed such as lunch meats and hot dogs
Soy sauce
Meats which are smoked that contain nitrates
Apple juice and apple cider
Dried or processed fruit, such as maraschino cherries
Preserved or pickled vegetables, such as pickles, olives, and sauerkraut
Nuts and nut-containing foods, such as peanut butter
Breads containing yeast
Seafood products, especially shellfish
Ice cream or very cold foods
Alcohol
And Chemicals:
Tyramine
Phenylethylamine
Tannin
Sulfites
Nitrates
Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
http://www.personalmd.com/news/a1998022303.shtml
Vitamin B2 Helps Prevent Migraines
NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Taking a high dose of vitamin B2 (riboflavin) every day may help prevent migraines, according to a report in the journal Neurology.
Vitamin B2 may provide an attractive alternative to existing migraine therapies due to its low cost, beneficial effect and lack of side-effects, say Belgian researchers.
Vitamin B2 is required for cells to efficiently use energy. When it is not available, the energy "powerhouses" of the cell, the mitochondria, cannot function properly -- and in some patients, this may trigger migraine. Previous reports have suggested that migraine patients' brains have reduced energy reserves between attacks.
In a controlled study sponsored by the Belgian Migraine Society, 55 migraine patients received 400 milligrams (mg) of B2 daily for three months. Patients recorded their experiences, including number of migraines, how long they lasted, and the severity of the attack.
Patients on vitamin B2 had 37% fewer migraines. The effect of vitamin B2 was "most pronounced on attack frequency and the number of days with migraine headache," while it had only a "marginal" improvement over placebo in decreasing the severity of migraines.
"The effect of riboflavin begins after 1 month but is maximal only after 3 months of treatment," write the team, led by Dr. Jean Schoenen of the University of Liege in Belgium. "Whether efficacy of riboflavin may increase further beyond 3 months of treatment remains to be determined," note the authors.
In a statement issued by the American Academy of Neurology, Schoenen said riboflavin may work best for those who have moderate migraine headaches a few times a month. Study co-author Dr. Marc Lenaerts of the University of Oklahoma advises migraine patients interested in taking riboflavin to discuss it with their physician. A prescription would be needed for the high dosage of the vitamin.
Migraine affects 26 million Americans, affecting their ability to function at work and at home. Migraine sufferers experience blinding pain usually accompanied by vertigo, nausea and vomiting, and an extreme sensitivity to light.
SOURCE: Neurology (1998;50:466-470)
---
Here's a short list of some foods that can trigger migraines too. If you avoid some of them, it might help. Alot of these are also harmful to the bladder.
Chocolate
Caffeine in soda, tea, and coffee
Cheese and cheese products, especially blue cheese and smoked cheese
Meats which are processed such as lunch meats and hot dogs
Soy sauce
Meats which are smoked that contain nitrates
Apple juice and apple cider
Dried or processed fruit, such as maraschino cherries
Preserved or pickled vegetables, such as pickles, olives, and sauerkraut
Nuts and nut-containing foods, such as peanut butter
Breads containing yeast
Seafood products, especially shellfish
Ice cream or very cold foods
Alcohol
And Chemicals:
Tyramine
Phenylethylamine
Tannin
Sulfites
Nitrates
Monosodium glutamate (MSG)