B-Vitamins

[Guest guest]

I have seen patients with insomnia from taking B vitamins, some people

are effected more readily and will have difficulty sleeping if taking a

strong B vitamin supplement at any time of the day. Other people can

have difficulty sleeping just from eating vegemite in the evenings.

(Its a yeast extract that is high in B vitamins.) In fact, my three

year old snuck into the kitchen and ate a whole bunch of vegemite

strait from the jar, and the poor kid was really twitchy and couldnt

sleep. That'll learn him.

Regards,

Lea.

 

, " Paul Bergner "

<bergnerp wrote:

>

> One role of B-Vitamins is to catalyze the metabolism. In supplements

> they are often taken in greater amount than could be obtained with a

> sensible diet, and also taken in concentrated form. Thus, they can at

> least temporarily promote the generation of metabolic heat. It is

> enough to give insomnia to some patients if they take their Bs in the

> evening. Even if not producing a heat condition, they could aggravate

> one.

> --

> Paul Bergner

> North American Institute of Medical Herbalism http://naimh.com

> Medical Herbalism Journal http://medherb.com

>

[Guest guest]

B vitamins may offer migraine relief By Stephen Daniells, 02-Apr-2009

 

Previous studies by GRC identified a gene, known as MTHFR

(methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase), which reportedly makes people

susceptible to migraine attacks when there is a mutation or dysfunction

in the gene (C677T).

 

The dysfunction leads to higher levels of the amino acid homocysteine,

already linked to increased risk of stroke and other coronary diseases.

 

" These results provided compelling evidence that lowering plasma

homocysteine

<http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/content/search?SearchText=homocyste\

ine> levels via folic acid

<http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/content/search?SearchText=folic+aci\

d> coupled with B6 and B12 vitamin supplementation improved

health-related productivity and therefore quality of life for these

patients, " wrote the researchers, led by Professor Lyn Griffiths.

 

 

 

Migraine stats

 

 

 

About 12 - 15 per cent of people in the UK, (around nine million

people), suffer from migraines, with twice as many women as men affected

by the complaint.

 

 

 

The headaches are sometimes preceded by flashes of light, blind spots,

tingling in the arms or legs, or anxiety. Suffers generally experience a

pounding sensation in one side of the head and many undergo nausea,

vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and noise. The symptoms are

often severe and debilitating, lasting anywhere between four and 72

hours.

 

 

 

Study details

 

 

 

According to findings to be published in an upcoming issue of

Pharmacogenetics and Genomics, the GRC scientists recruited 52 people

diagnosed with migraine with aura. The participants were randomly

assigned to receive either vitamin supplements providing a daily dose of

2mg of folic acid, 25mg vitamin B6, and 400 micrograms of B12, or

placebo, for six months.

 

 

 

Results showed a reduction in homocysteine levels by 39 per cent,

compared to baseline, and statistically significant compared to placebo

 

 

 

Furthermore, the supplements were associated with a reduction in the

prevalence of migraine disability from 60 per cent at the start of the

study to 30 per cent after 6 months. No reduction was observed in the

placebo group, said the researchers.

 

 

 

Reductions in the frequency of the headache and the severity of the pain

were also observed in people in the B vitamin group, while no such

changes were observed in the placebo group.

 

 

 

The influence of genes

 

 

 

When considering the genotypes of the participants, Prof Griffiths and

her co-workers report that the benefits were associated with MTHFRC677T

genotype. Furthermore, carriers of the C allele responded better to

people with TT genotypes.

 

 

 

" We found that C allele carriers responded better to treatment

compared to TT genotypes in terms of homocysteine and migraine

reduction. This finding may be explained by the idea that TT genotypes

are genetically slower homocysteine metabolisers, " said the

researchers.

 

 

 

" That is, if all patients received the same vitamin dosage for the

same period of time it would be expected that those with TT genotypes,

having a reduced enzymatic rate, would metabolise less homocysteine over

the treatment period compared to C allele carriers, thus resulting in a

smaller reduction in homocysteine and consequent migraine symptoms.

 

 

 

" Indeed, it may be that TT genotypes although having a higher risk

of disease actually require a larger dosage of vitamins to exhibit the

same effect as C alleles. Further clinical trials of much larger patient

cohorts are required to test this hypothesis, " they added.

 

 

 

Prof Griffiths added that such trials will be undertaken, with the aim

of elucidating the best dosage of B vitamins for individuals based on

their genetic profile – personalized nutrition.

 

 

 

" The success of our trial - supported by the Brain Foundation, Janssens

and Blackmores - has shown that safe, inexpensive vitamin supplements

can treat migraine patients, " said Prof Griffiths.

 

 

 

Previous studies had reported that B vitamins may benefit migraine

sufferers with high-dose vitamin B2 (riboflavin) reported to help

prevent migraines (European Journal of Neurology, 2004, Vol. 11, pp.

475-477).

 

 

 

Source: Pharmacogenetics and Genomics

In press

" The effects of vitamin supplementation and MTHFR (C677T) genotype

on homocysteine-lowering and migraine disability "

Authors: R. Lea, N. Colson, S. Quinlan, J. Macmillan, L. Griffiths