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Studies reveal new migraine remedies  
A migraine is much more than just a bad headache - it's a recurrent, throbbing headache, usually on one side of the head, often accompanied by "auras" such as nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. The pain of migraines can be excruciating and debilitating, lasting for hours or even days. Sometime in their lives, up to 20% of men and up to 35% of women will suffer migraines.
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Low CoQ10 is common among migraine sufferers, and supplementing can help.
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While most experts agree that migraines are the result of excessive constriction of blood vessels in the head followed by a rebound dilation period, the exact cause of this pattern is not fully known. Some possibilities include abnormal blood flow control, a platelet disorder, a nerve disorder and low serotonin. Studies also indicate that food sensitivities and/or allergies likely contribute to many cases, as may magnesium deficiency.
Recent studies highlight a few natural remedies with the potential to significantly alleviate migraine headaches.
. Coenzyme Q10: This year, US researchers at the Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, studied 1,550 young subjects (average age 13.3 years) with frequent headaches. They discovered that coenzyme Q10 deficiency was quite common in among the subjects (74.6%), and that supplementation with coenzyme Q10 among those deficient was found to be effective in reducing the frequency of headaches. In all, 46.3% of the patients experienced a 50% reduction in headache frequency.
. Alpha-lipoic acid: In another study, researchers at the University of Liege, Belgium, conducted a randomized, controlled trial on 44 patients diagnosed with migraine headaches (with or without aura). They found that supplementation with lipoic acid reduced the frequency of migraine attacks, the number of headache days and the severity of headaches over the course of three months, while no changes were found among subjects taking the placebo.
. Butterbur: German researchers recently looked at the role of butterbur root extract on migraine prevention in children and adolescents with severe migraines. Previous trials have demonstrated the success of Butterbur in migraine reduction in adults. A total of 108 children and adolescents (6 to 17 years) who suffered from migraines for at least one year were treated with 50 to 150 mg of the butterbur root extract, depending on age, for four months. The researchers found that 77% of patients reported a reduction in the frequency of migraine attacks of at least 50%. Total attack frequency was reduced by 63%, and 91% of patients felt substantially or at least slightly improved. They conclude that butterbur "shows a potential as an effective and well-tolerated migraine prophylaxis also for children and teenagers."
Vitamins boost fertility factors Â
Women who take a daily multivitamin tablet and men who take vitamin C supplements can significantly improve their fertility, new research indicates.
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Harvard School of Public Health researchers followed 18,000 women over eight years and found that those who took a multivitamin at least six days a week had a 40% lower risk of ovulation problems leading to infertility.
Ovulation problems are the second leading cause of female infertility after blocked fallopian tubes.
"Multivitamins are packed with a large amount of nutrients so we looked at which were crucial, said Jorge Chavarro, the Harvard research fellow who led the study. "As best as we could tell, it looked as if folic acid was the nutrient that played the biggest role."
Mothers lacking in folic acid during pregnancy have an increased chance of giving birth to children with spina bifida, and all women who are pregnant or trying to conceive are advised to take supplements.
For men, too, supplementation can make a difference. Researchers at Dubai Specialized Medical Center and Research Labs studied 13 infertile males who received 1,000 mg of vitamin C each twice daily. The men ranged in age from 25 to 35 years.
Sperm counts, movement and structure each improved significantly after two months of vitamin C intake, the researchers found. They concluded that "vitamin C supplementation might improve sperm count, motility and morphology and might have a place as an additional supplement to improve semen quality towards conception."
Magnesium improves asthma in kids Â
Magnesium supplements can help ease asthma symptoms in young people, a Brazilian study suggests.
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Studies indicate magnesium's bronchodilating effect can be quite rapid.
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Researchers at the State University of Campinas Medical School set out to investigate the long-term effects of magnesium supplementation on children and adolescents with "moderate persistent asthma."
Thirty-seven patients ranging in age from seven to 19 years were randomly divided into two groups, one of which received 300 mg of magnesium per day. The other received a placebo. Both groups also received standard asthma medication as needed.
After two months of observation, the researchers concluded that "oral magnesium supplementation helped to reduce bronchial reactivity...., to diminish allergen-induced skin responses and to provide better symptom control in pediatric patients with moderate persistent asthma treated with [inhalers]."
Lung function was similar in the two groups but patients who received magnesium had "fewer asthma exacerbations and used less salbutamol [inhalers] compared to the placebo group."
Chromium shines in diabetes studies Â
A new study from Louisiana State University demonstrates that chromium improves blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity among diabetics. In the 10-month study, those who received 500 mcg of chromium picolinate twice a day experienced significantly improved insulin sensitivity, had less weight gain, less abdominal fat and lower glyco-hemoglobin (an indication of sugar-induced damage to tissues).
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Reductions in blood sugar, weight and cholesterol levels leave little doubt that chromium may be a wise choice for diabetics.
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University of Vermont researchers report similar findings. In their study involving 37 people with type 2 diabetes, individuals who received 1,000 mcg of chromium picolinate daily for six months, along with diabetes medication, showed improved insulin sensitivity and glucose control compared to a placebo group. Those who received supplements also experienced reduced weight gain and fat accumulation.
A third study, this one from Israel, points to chromium supplementation as beneficial for older people with type 2 diabetes. Along with standard treatment for the disease, 39 people with diabetes received 200 mcg of chromium picolinate twice daily for three weeks. Meanwhile, 39 others received a placebo. The average age of study participants was 73 and all were undergoing rehabilitation following strokes or hip fractures.
The researchers concluded that among elderly diabetic patients undergoing rehabilitation, "dietary supplementation with chromium is beneficial in moderating glucose intolerance. In addition, chromium intake appears to lower plasma lipid levels."
Cranberry studied in arthritis, cancer Â
Cranberries have always been colourful and festive but now it appears they also help fight cancer and arthritis. Scientists are pointing to cranberry juice as a useful tonic for people with rheumatoid arthritis and to the cranberry fruit as having possible anticancer effects.
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According to researchers, there's a link between urinary tract infections and arthritis, and getting more cranberry can help.
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UK Researchers at Kings College London observe a strong link between rheumatoid arthritis and microbial infection, such as urinary tract infection. People with rheumatoid arthritis, they suggest, could benefit from antibacterial measures including "the use of antibiotics, vegetarian diets and high intake of water and fruit juices such as cranberry juice in addition to currently employed treatments."
Sub-clinical urinary tract infections, these same researchers propose, are what trigger rheumatoid arthritis: a chronic, disabling disease affecting mainly older women.
Across the Atlantic, meanwhile, a University of Massachusetts review looked at the anticancer properties of cranberries. Researchers reviewed a number of trials and concluded that specific cranberry extracts "can inhibit the growth and proliferation of breast, colon, prostate, lung and other tumours...."
Among other ways in which they may fight disease, cranberries appear to be anti-inflammatory and to play a role in the disintegration of tumour cells.
"In fact...the unique combination of phytochemicals found in cranberry fruit may produce synergistic health benefits."
Hot pepper compound is anti-cancer Â
UK scientists report that capsaicin, the chemical that burns your mouth when you eat hot peppers, can kill cancer cells with little or no harmful side effects.
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Researchers say capsaicin can kill cancer cells with no harm to surrounding tissue.
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The researchers believe that capsaicin and other similar compounds attack the mitochondria of cancerous cells, causing them to "switch off" and die (apoptosis, or cell death) without harming surrounding tissue. They say the discovery might explain the low incidence of cancer in countries where people eat a lot of chillies like Mexico and India.
The researchers note the discovery is exciting for two reasons. First, since capsaicin and related compounds already exist in food that is eaten regularly, they are already safe and readily available. Second, these compounds have already been approved for use in a range of drugs such as skin ointments to treat psoriasis and neuralgia. Converting their use to treat cancer would be much cheaper and quicker compared to starting from scratch with a new compound.
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