Hi all my wonderful gpers :-))-
I saw an article in the free newsletter that natural grocers puts out. You might be able to view it at: www.naturalgrocers.com. I think the articles are written by nutritionalists, but I am not sure. Since it is put out by a company that sells herbal products and vitamins, I always read between the lines, but I thought this was worth sharing.
They discussed a study that was done by Osman Metin Ipcoiglu, MD (of the Gulhane MIlitary Medical Academy, Istanbul, Turkey) with 50 women who had a history of migraine headaches without an aura and compared them to 46 healthy subjects. Blood levels of both vitamin B12 and folic acid (another B vitamin) were similar among women with migraines and those without migraines.
However, almost 3/4ths of the women with m. headaches had elevated levels of methylmalonic acid (reflects actual vitamin B12 activity). When vitamin B12 levels are low, methylmalonic acid levels are elevated. In fact, the women's levels of methylmalonic acid averaged twice that of women without migraines.
The doctor noted that a functional deficiency of vit. B12 might be missed with a simple blood test for the vitamin. He rec. that migraine patients be tested for methylmalonic acid and, if it was elevated, to be treated with vit. B12.
So many people on this site have mentioned having migraines so I thought this was interesting. And other people have mentioned taking B supplements so I thought you'd all like to see this. Once again, it seems that it is hard for us with GP to digest nutrients and vitamins so this might be one of the causes of the migraines. Plus, my other theory is that it takes so long for us to digest food and when I had migraines (I pretty much have grown out of them-had them a lot as a kid), if I missed a meal, I automatically got one.
Take care and have a safe 4th! Mphotographer
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Vitamin B12 deficiency and migraines
- By mphotographer
- Posted July 2, 2009 at 9:01 am · 6 replies
- In Nutrition
- Shared with the public
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- By busyteacher
- Posted July 2, 2009 at 7:11 pm
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The neurologist made me promise to take B-complex vitamins and fish oil together every day. That, combined with the magnesium, seems to have gotten rid of the headaches.
So many little things we miss on an artificial diet!
- By mphotographer
- Posted July 2, 2009 at 8:36 pm
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That's great that it got rid of your headaches!!
- By plushy
- Posted July 3, 2009 at 6:09 pm
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Hi mphotographer
Can you take calcium and my doc did not mention anything yet about vitiamins yet, i am still takeing a multi one but sometimes it hurts so i do not take it as often. Do you take things daily and if so what are they.
I was thinking of liquid forms but i am not sure what to get. Any ideas would really help
Everyone be safe this weekend!!!!!!
- By busyteacher
- Posted July 3, 2009 at 8:45 pm
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There is lots of calcium in almond milk. I take it in supplement form, too. Also, I think Ensure is fortified with extra calcium.
Can you drink orange juice? There are also fortified versions of that. And, if you eat any solids, you can get white bread fortified with calcium.
Take care of your teeth--something I wish someone had told me and didn't think to ask about.
- By plushy
- Posted July 3, 2009 at 9:58 pm
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I have not tried Orange Juice yet. I can eat white bread it does ok with me. I know what you mean about
your teeth as i get older more problems come up..
I also find that when i think about trying things i start to remember what happens and that holds me back..
All i seem to eat is baked potatoes, soup, cheese and frozen yougert. It gets old but i want to try other things.
- By mphotographer
- Posted July 4, 2009 at 8:31 am
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Hi Plushy-
I take a liquid multi-vitamin once a day (Trace Minerals Liquid Multi-Vita-Mineral with ConcenTrace). I get it at Vitamin Cottage and it has to be refrigerated. I also take a powdered mixture called Ionic-Fizz Super D Calcium Plus that I mix with water twice a day and sip on slowly.
If you are not lactose intolerant, drinking milk a couple times of day gives you a good deal of calcium. I also am able to eat low fat cheese sticks (one a day). It's a good idea to take a calcium supplement, esp. with our weird diets, to make sure you are getting enough. I just had a bone density test and I am in the normal range, but I am on the border for osteopenia. It's so hard to know how much of each nutrient we are really absorbing when things sit in our stomach for so long so I believe in taking supplements if you can "stomach" them.
Good luck and I hope it's a good stomach day for you all-Mphotographer
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