Q10 Prevents Migraine

July 26, 2004

The antioxidant Q10 is an efficient remedy for the treating of migraine without side effects. This has been demonstrated by Swiss researchers at the University Hospital in Zürich. The discovery was presented in San Francisco at a congress for neurologists immediately prior the summer holidays.

The Swiss study is the second successive study to show that Q10 prevents migraine. Two years ago, the treatment was tested in a so-called open trial at Jefferson University of Pennsylvania.

32 severely affected migraine patients were included – they had an average of eight migraine attacks a month. During the course of three months, they were each given 150 mg. of Q10 a day and the frequency of migraine attacks were gradually reduced to less than three a month.

The result from Pennsylvania made such a big impression that a more thorough study was found necessary. This study has now been completed in Switzerland as a randomized trial with 42 participants. Before the trial, the participants suffered an average of 4-5 migraine attacks a month.

During the trial, 50% of the participants were given placebo while the other 50% were given 300 mg. of Q10 divided into three doses a day. After three months, 48% of the ones who had been given Q10 had achieved a 50% reduction in the frequency of migraine attacks while only 14% of the placebo group achieved the same effect. As a net result, 36% had substancially benefited from the treatment. A result of this magnitude can certainly be compared with the best working of the presently used treatments.

The leader of the Swiss trial, the neurologist Peter S. Sandor, underlines the absence of adverse effects as a decisive factor – particularly to young women who might fear that the conventional treatment could have teratogenic effects.

However, the result also opens up to other interesting perspectives in the understanding of migraine. Q10 is a natural substance necessary to the cells’ energy production and the theory behind the study is that migraine may be caused by a lack of chemical energy in the nerve cells.

According to David Dodick, professor in neurology at the respected Mayo clinic in Arizona, this new study was well performed and the result is statistically robust. He believes that Q10 can be an attractive form of treatment to those who prefer a natural alternative to prescription drugs.

By: Vitality Council

Reference:
Sandor P. et al. Water-soluble Coenzyme Q10 demonstrates significant migraine prophylaxis. American Academy of Neurology. 56th Annual Meeting: Abstract S43.004, 2004.

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