Irritable Bowel Syndrome

28 October 2013

6 Key Stomach/Gut Terms related to Migraine

Abdominal Migraine Common in children, but also seen in adults. A type of migraine that could include stomach pain and nausea, and may not include headache.
Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS) Particularly in children, this could be related to migraine or could actually be a type of migraine.
Gastric Stasis A common condition in migraine patients – a delayed emptying of the stomach – which can keep medications from working properly.
Gut-Brain Connection The enteric nervous system or “second brain” in the gut may explain why diet and treatment of stomach issues are closely connected to migraine.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) A common disorder comorbid with migraine.
Nausea One of the most common symptoms of migraine (including vomiting).

1 February 2013

Can Sorbitol cause Migraines?

Can sorbitol cause migraines – or, as we prefer to say here, migraine attacks? To answer this question, let’s first take a look at what sorbitol is and where you find it.

Sorbitol (also called glucitol) is a natural sugar alcohol (polyol) found in various fruits including apples and plums. High quantities are found in some dried fruits, such as raisins, figs and prunes. Calorie per calorie, sorbitol is sweeter than sugar – which is why it is produced commercially as a sugar substitute in many foods.

And it’s in the eating of these “artificial” foods that many people find their intake or sorbitol is far too high.

The sorbitol made in the factory is commonly made from corn syrup.

Sorbitol is commonly found in foods marketed as “lite” or “sugar free”. That would include cake mixes, jams and jellies, meal replacement bars, candies, and whipped toppings.

Sorbitol is very common in sugar free chewing gums. It’s also common in toothpaste and mouthwash.

Sorbitol has a laxative effect, and so it’s often found in medications as well. It’s even found in drugs taken for migraine or headache, such as Advil Migraine.

The biggest complaint when it comes to sorbitol isn’t headaches but gastrointestinal problems. If you eat enough, you can get diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal pain.

This is especially a problem in children, who may chew sugar free gum or eat candy containing sorbitol. Children are much more likely to develop symptoms.

There have been complaints or sorbitol irritating or even causing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Of course now we get into the debate – how much do you need to eat? Are some people more susceptible than others? How serious can these side effects become?

But can sorbitol cause migraine attacks? Migraineurs have reported that attacks have been triggered by eating foods containing sorbitol. We also know that there is a strong connection between migraine and gastrointestinal problems – particularly IBS.

So there is ample reason to suspect a link.

If you have reason to believe that sorbitol is triggering migraine attacks, check labels carefully and eliminate it from your diet. You may be wise to avoid artificial sweeteners altogether. It seems to be much wiser to eat whole foods and unprocessed foods more often, rather than try to “eat better” using foods made in a factory.

Have you had an experience with sorbitol and migraine? Leave a comment!

For more information: A petition requesting better labelling for foods with sorbitol, and Sorbitol in The Sweetener Book

26 January 2009

Fight Migraine: Be nice to your Mitochondria

James Discoveries & Stats, Tips, Treatments 3

Links between related diseases, such as migraine and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are important for more than one reason. First, they get us closer to finding the common cause, which could lead to future treatments of both diseases.

But learning about links can be important to you right now. They can give you new insight into how to prioritize your treatment, and what lifestyle changes you can make that can give you more "healthy days" to enjoy your life.

That’s why I was interested in the report put out by researchers at the Mayo Clinic earlier this month. The report had the typically long name Mitochondrial DNA, Gastrointestinal Motor and Sensory Functions in Health and Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders. Let me break it down quickly for you.

Simplified diagram of a mitochondrion

Researchers of various diseases, not just what are technically called mitochondrial diseases, are very interested in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and something called nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). These are variations in the mtDNA that might be related to diseases such as stroke, migraine, and irritable bowel syndrome.

To get to the key point – these researchers believe that certain variations – SNPs – may be associated with gastric emptying, and even pain. The same variations are related to migraine, and childhood cyclic vomiting syndrome (which in many cases is probably abdominal migraine).

Developing treatments

Treatments are being investigated to treat diseases related to mtDNA. This includes diet and supplement treatments, exercise training, and more direct DNA therapy, such as artificially manufactured enzymes. One of the big jobs of the mitochondria is energy production, so a lot of today’s therapy is based around reducing energy "leaks" (ie excessive stress), and keeping a steady source of energy (snacks with complex carbohydrates, eating regularly, supplements, etc).

Can this research benefit me Now?

This research actually supports much of what we’ve talked about before. For example, we just talked about gastric stasis and the benefit of migraine nasal sprays. Gastric stasis may be linked to migraine through these SNPs, or variations (which may explain why many migraineurs have gastric stasis all the time).

Much of the common treatment for mitochondrial disease makes sense for migraineurs. Ever had an attack because you skipped a meal? Or slept in (and so went longer without eating)? Here are some key treatments and lifestyle changes which have even more credibility when looking at the link between migraine and the mitochondria:

B complex vitamins: Very common in migraine treatment, and a key ingredient in Migreleif, a well researched supplement.
Antioxidents: such as vitamin E. Magnesium is also key in the cleansing of the body (also a key ingredient in Migrelief). (this also means avoiding toxins, like cigarette smoke, alcohol, and MSG). Magnesium and antioxidant superfoods include beans and spinach.
Eating regularly: Be careful not to skip meals. Try healthy snacks thoughout the day, including complex carbohydrates which will keep a steady supply of energy in your body.
Coenzyme Q10: A key supplement for migraine which we have discussed before in HeadWay. CoQ10 is also an antioxidant. But the key factor may be the way it "jump starts" the energy production in your cells. I am personally taking CoQ10 now, in the 300mg softgels (3 month supply of softgels). For migraine, between 150mg and 300mg is recommended, but check with your doctor for the amount right for you (CoQ10 at Vitacost).

You may find that following these suggestions not only cut down your migraine attacks, but also related mitochondrial symptoms such as depression, muscle fatigue and IBS. Fighting gastric stasis will also make your medication more effective when you need to take it. There are a suprising number of benefits to treating your mitochondria right!

30 October 2008

Probiotics for IBS – study review

James News, Tips, Treatments 12

We’ve been talking lately about the use of a probiotics supplement for migraine. A probiotics supplement is especially attractive to those who are trying to avoid yogurt, which triggers migraine attacks in some.

One unwelcome visitor that often comes along with migraine is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). So a recent review of studies done of patients with IBS taking probiotics supplements caught my eye, because it has implications for both groups (more on the link between IBS and migraine).

In a nutshell, the studies were presented at the American College of Gastroenterology’s 73rd Annual Scientific Meeting. Researchers suggested the following:

Probiotics are safe
Probiotics help lessen symptoms of IBS
Multistrain probiotics are effective
Probiotics were also effective for teenagers and children

Why does this matter to migraine sufferers? Most obviously, because many are also suffering from IBS. But there’s another reason – the evidence is mounting that multistrain probiotics actually do help.

That may seem obvious, but some have argued that by the time the supplement gets into your system (especially into your intestines), you’re lucky if there are any probiotics that are actually still there to help you. There’s no doubt this is true for some brands (more on that in a moment). But a quality probiotic is actually improving your body’s functioning, and that is major news.

Previously I recommended Natureâ€™s Way Primadophilus Optima. I chose this particular brand because
(1) It’s a multistrain probiotic (14 strains, including bifidobacterium infantis)
(2) It seems to be among the best when it comes to getting the maximum amount of probiotic benefit into your body. Many brands of probiotics fall far short of the label’s claims about the amounts of each strain, once you actually go to take the supplement. Buying the wrong brand (this goes for yogurt too, by the way) may mean you’re taking something with very little benefit.

To maximize the benefits, be sure to refrigerate the bottle as soon as it arrives. And don’t buy 243 bottles in advance – stick to 2 or 3.

You can find Primadophilus Optima at Vitacost (above link). Primadophilus Optima is also available on amazon.com.

There is growing evidence that taking care of your "gut" (intestines) can be a powerful way to fight migraine. Finding ways to do this that are safe and effective will continue to help migraineurs make smart decisions.

Read more about the studies at Science Daily: How Effective Are Probiotics In Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

6 October 2006

Large study links IBS with migraine

James Discoveries & Stats 11

A large study by J. Alexander Cole and his team shows a definite link between Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and migraine. The study included almost 125,000 people, some with IBS and some without. The question was simply, how many of those people also have migraine, depression, or fibromyalgia?

We’ve known for a long time that fibromyalgia, depression and IBS seem to be linked to migraine. But a study this large had the potential to prove the connection more than ever before – and it did. IBS sufferers were 60% more likely to have migraine than the control group, 40% more likely to suffer from depression, and 80% more likely to suffer from fibromyalgia. There’s no doubt that there’s a connection – but what is it?

Dr Reza Shaker of the Medical College of Wisconsin says rightly,”Clinical observations of patients with pain syndromes indicate that we are dealing with a syndrome bigger than a single organ.” He notes the increased neurological sensitivity in many patients, which may be the clue that leads to the common cause. Dr Harrison Pope from Harvard Medical School suggests that there may be a genetic root cause. Neither of these suggestions should surprise migraineurs.

If you want all the technical details, read the abstract of this study here: Migraine, fibromyalgia, and depression among people with IBS: a prevalence study