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According to a new research, daily intake of vitamin D supplement could cut the number of migraine attack. The treatment nearly halved the attacks patients suffered during a six-month trial with those taking the daily supplement (and no other medication) going from having migraines more than six days a month to three.
The supplement work by combating inflammation in the tiny blood vessels in the brain, keeps the endothelium-the layer of cells that coats the inside of all blood vessels smooth and pliable, allowing free flow of blood. Painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen can help mild attacks. In more severe cases, patients are prescribed triptans, which work by restoring the chemical balance in the brain that is disrupted by migraines.
Efrenula-the newly approved drug, reduced migraine frequency from around eight days a month to between four and five during trial. Vitamin D capsules could be an alternative according to the study. Researchers from Aalborg University in Denmark, undertook the trial because previous investigations had suggested that migraine sufferers were more likely to be deficient in vitamin D than non-sufferers.
The human body gets most of its vitamin D needs through exposure to sunlight, although it is also found in foods such as oily fish, cheese and eggs. The vitamin plays a vital role in helping the body absorb calcium from the diet, build healthy bone, protect against heart disease and cancer.
Meanwhile, looking at paintings could provide an unexpected form of pain relief. A study of 56 patients with chronic pain at the University of California in the U.S. found that 57 per cent of participants reported pain relief during and after a group trip to a gallery. The researchers concluded the group element of gallery outings could help by creating a sense of inclusion that contrasted with the social isolation experienced during conventional treatments, which could exacerbate symptoms.