ascorbic-acid and Headache

Reduced intake and absorption of antioxidants due to pain and malabsorption are probable causes of the lower levels of antioxidants observed in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP). Improving the status of antioxidants might be effective in slowing the disease process and reducing pain in CP.. To assess the benefits and harms of antioxidants for the treatment of pain in patients with CP.. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Conference Proceedings Citation Index from inception to October 2012. Two review authors performed the selection of trials independently.. We included all randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating antioxidants for treatment of pain in CP. All trials were included irrespective of blinding, numbers of participants randomly assigned and language of the article.. Two review authors extracted data independently. The risk of bias of included trials was assessed. Study authors were asked for additional information in the case of missing data.. Twelve RCTs with a total of 585 participants were included. Six trials were double-blinded, placebo-controlled studies, and the other six trials were of less adequate methodology. Most trials were small and had high rates of dropout. Eleven of the 12 included trials described the effects of antioxidants on chronic abdominal pain in chronic pancreatitis. Pain as measured on a visual analogue scale (VAS, scale range 0 to 10) after one to six months was less in the antioxidant group than in the control group (mean difference (MD) -0.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.64 to -0.02, P value 0.04, moderate-quality evidence). The number of pain-free participants was not statistically significantly different (risk ratio (RR) 1.73, 95% CI 0.95 to 3.15, P value 0.07, low-quality evidence). More adverse events were observed in the antioxidant group, both in the parallel trials (RR 4.43, 95% CI 1.60 to 12.29, P value 0.0004, moderate-quality evidence) and in the cross-over trials (RR 5.80, 95% CI 1.56 to 21.53, P value 0.0009, moderate-quality evidence). Adverse events occurred in 16% of participants and were mostly mild (e.g. headache, gastrointestinal complaints), but were sufficient to make participants stop antioxidant use. Other important outcomes such as use of analgesics, exacerbation of pancreatitis and quality of life were rarely reported. One trial from 1991 evaluated the effects of antioxidants on acute pain during exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis and found that a significantly higher proportion of participants in the antioxidant group experienced pain relief. This trial was conducted more than 25 years ago and has not been reproduced since that time. Therefore, additional trials are needed before reliable conclusions can be drawn.. Current evidence shows that antioxidants can reduce pain slightly in patients with chronic pancreatitis. The clinical relevance of this small reduction is uncertain, and more evidence is needed. Adverse events in one of six patients may prevent the use of antioxidants. Effects of antioxidants on other outcome measures, such as use of analgesics, exacerbation of pancreatitis and quality of life remain uncertain because reliable data are not available.

Topics: Abdominal Pain; Analgesics; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; beta Carotene; Chronic Pain; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Headache; Humans; Pain Measurement; Pancreatitis, Chronic; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Vitamin A; Vitamin E

Seventy-six patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in first complete remission after induction and consolidation by daunorubicin and cytosine arabinoside received oral arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3))-based maintenance. Three regimens were used: oral As(2)O(3) (10 mg/day, regimen A, n = 20), oral As(2)O(3) plus all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA, 45 mg/m(2) per day, regimen AA, n = 19), and oral As(2)O(3) plus ATRA plus ascorbic acid (1000 mg/day, regimen AAA, n = 37), each given for 2 weeks every 2 months for 2 years. Patients receiving A, AA, and AAA maintenance did not differ significantly in clinicopathologic features and risk factors. Headache, dyspepsia, reversible liver function derangement, and herpes zoster reactivation were adverse effects observed during maintenance. QTc prolongation and arrhythmias were not encountered. At a median follow-up of 24 months (range, 1-115 months), there were 8 relapses. The 3-year leukemia-free-survival, event-free-survival, and overall-survival were 87.7%, 83.7%, and 90.6%, respectively. Adverse prognostic factors included male gender for leukemia-free-survival, and unrelated cancers for overall survival. Age, presentation WBC count and platelet count, and the type of oral As(2)O(3) maintenance regimens had no impact on survivals. Prolonged oral As(2)O(3) maintenance was feasible and safe and resulted in favorable outcomes when used with a simple induction and consolidation regimen compared with other protocols composed of multiple chemotherapeutic agents.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Arsenic Trioxide; Arsenicals; Ascorbic Acid; Cytarabine; Daunorubicin; Disease-Free Survival; Dyspepsia; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Headache; Humans; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute; Male; Middle Aged; Oxides; Recurrence; Remission Induction; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Tretinoin

Topics: Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Clinical Trials as Topic; Dihydrostreptomycin Sulfate; Drug Eruptions; Eosinophilia; Female; Headache; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Streptomycin; Sulfates; Tinnitus; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary; Vertigo

For patients who have acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in second complete remission (CR2), optimal postremission strategies remain undefined.. The role of an oral arsenic trioxide (As. Seventy-three patients with APL in first relapse (R1) were studied. Oral As. For patients with relapsed APL, As

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Arsenic Trioxide; Ascorbic Acid; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Combined Modality Therapy; Disease-Free Survival; Female; Headache; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Hong Kong; Humans; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Prospective Studies; Remission Induction; Risk Factors; Severity of Illness Index; Survival Analysis; Time Factors; Transplantation, Autologous; Tretinoin; Young Adult

A 40-years-old female patient was referred to the cornea clinic as a probable case of bilateral keratitis. The patient had a history of headache followed by acute onset of redness, pain and discharge from both eyes for 15 days. The patient was diagnosed as bilateral keratitis by the first contact physician and was started on topical antibiotics, cycloplegics and lubricating eye-drops. At presentation, both eyes had visual acuity of perception of light, conjunctival congestion, limbal blanching, diffuse corneal oedema and epithelial defect. A detailed history revealed application of Vicks VapoRub [topical ayurvedic analgesic which contains (per 100 g of product) menthol (2.82 g), camphor (5.25 g) and eucalyptol (1.49 mL) and excipients include thymol (0.1 g), turpentine oil (5.57 mL), nutmeg oil (0.54 mL), cedar wood oil and petrolatum)] on the forehead and eyelids for headache several times over 2-3 days before the onset. The patient further confirmed the accidental application of the ointment in the eyes. A provisional diagnosis of acute chemical injury with Vicks VapoRub was made and treatment with topical antibiotic, cycloplegic, steroid, lubricant and vitamin C was started. On follow-up, both eyes showed gradual resolution of corneal oedema and epithelial defect. Visual acuity improved in the left eye to 6/60 with no change in right eye due to corneal haze.

Topics: Acute Disease; Administration, Topical; Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Ascorbic Acid; Burns, Chemical; Corneal Edema; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Headache; Humans; Keratitis; Lubricant Eye Drops; Medicine, Ayurvedic; Mydriatics; Steroids; Treatment Outcome; Visual Acuity

Topics: Abdominal Pain; Anemia; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Child, Preschool; Cough; Cytochrome-B(5) Reductase; Diagnosis, Differential; Emergency Service, Hospital; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency; Headache; Humans; Hypoxia; Intensive Care Units; Jaundice; Male; Methemoglobinemia; Methylene Blue; Morocco; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; United States; Vicia faba

The essential use of riboflavin is the prevention of migraine headaches, although its effect on migraines is considered to be associated with the increased mitochondrial energy metabolism. Oxidative stress is also important in migraine pathophysiology. Vitamin E is a strong antioxidant in nature and its analgesic effect is not completely clear in migraines. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN)-sourced exogen nitric oxide (NO), in particular, and also riboflavin and/or vitamin E on involved in the headache model induced via GTN-sourced exogen NO on oxidative stress, total brain calcium levels, and microsomal membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase levels. GTN infusion is a reliable method to provoke migraine-like headaches in experimental animals and humans. GTN resulted in a significant increase in brain cortex and microsomal lipid peroxidation levels although brain calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E, and brain microsomal-reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and plasma-membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase values decreased through GTN. The lipid peroxidation, GSH, vitamin A, β-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E, and calcium concentrations, GSH-Px, and the Ca(2+)-ATPase activities were increased both by riboflavin and vitamin E treatments. Brain calcium and vitamin A concentrations increased through riboflavin only. In conclusion, riboflavin and vitamin E had a protective effect on the GTN-induced brain injury by inhibiting free radical production, regulation of calcium-dependent processes, and supporting the antioxidant redox system. However, the effects of vitamin E on the values seem more important than in riboflavin.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; beta Carotene; Brain; Calcium; Calcium-Transporting ATPases; Disease Models, Animal; Enzyme Activation; Female; Glutathione; Glutathione Peroxidase; Headache; Lipid Peroxidation; Microsomes; Nitroglycerin; Oxidative Stress; Rats; Riboflavin; Vitamin A; Vitamin E

To examine the prevalence of headache or migraine complaints and the use of dietary supplements, and to determine their correlation according to sex.. This population-based cross-sectional study used data from a 2005 National Health Interview Survey of 15,414 participants (age 18-65 years) in Taiwan. Prevalence of headache or migraine complaints was accessed by a single question on their occurrence during the previous 3 months. Dietary supplement use was evaluated by another single question. Data were stratified by sex and analyzed using independent t-test, chi-square test, and multivariate logistic regression.. The prevalence of headache or migraine complaints was 17.2% in males and 32.4% in females. The percentage of women taking supplements was 31.8%, which was much higher than the 15.5% of men. In male supplement users, use of isoflavones had a significantly higher odds ratio (OR) of headache or migraine complaint compared with those of male without use of isoflavones (adjusted OR = 3.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.68-8.85). In females, vitamin B complex, vitamin C, and green algae supplement use had higher likelihoods of headache or migraine complaint in comparison to those of female without use of supplements (adjusted OR = 1.28, 1.21, and 1.43; 95% CI = 1.05-1.57, 1.03-1.42, and 1.07-1.90, respectively).. This population-based study confirmed sex-specific associations between headache or migraine complaints and the use of dietary supplements, warranting further investigation of the underlying causes.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Ascorbic Acid; Chlorophyta; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dietary Supplements; Female; Headache; Health Surveys; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Migraine Disorders; Prevalence; Sex Factors; Taiwan; Vitamin B Complex; Young Adult

Cellular hypoxia triggers a homeostatic increase in mitochondrial free radical signaling. In this study, blood was obtained from the radial artery and jugular venous bulb in 10 men during normoxia and 9  hours hypoxia (12.9% O(2)). Mitochondrial oxygen tension (p(O(2))(mit)) was derived from cerebral blood flow and blood gases. The ascorbate radical (A(•-)) was detected by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and neuron-specific enolase (NSE), a biomarker of neuronal injury, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Hypoxia increased the cerebral output of A(•-) in proportion to the reduction in p(O(2))(mit), but did not affect NSE exchange. These findings suggest that neuro-oxidative stress may constitute an adaptive response.

Topics: Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Blood Gas Analysis; Brain Chemistry; Cerebrovascular Circulation; Free Radicals; Headache; Homeostasis; Humans; Hypoxia, Brain; Kinetics; Male; Mitochondria; Oxidative Stress; Oxygen; Oxygen Consumption; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase

Patients with stages I and II of vascular encephalopathy developing on the background of atherosclerosis were treated with ascovertin during 21 days. Ascovertin is a complex of flavonoid dihydroquercetin and ascorbic acid. The study group included 21 patients aged 45-65 years and a comparison group consisted of 10 age-matched patients un treated with ascovertin. The ascovertin treatment relieved headache, reduced vertigo and fatigability, improved cognitive functions. The reliable diminishing of whole blood viscosity due to improvement of cellular rheology indices (decrease of aggregation and increase of erythrocyte deformability as well as decrease of indices of lipid peroxidation in erythrocyte membrane and blood plasma) was observed in the stydy group but not in the comparison one.

Topics: Aged; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Blood Viscosity; Drug Combinations; Erythrocyte Aggregation; Erythrocyte Deformability; Flavonols; Headache; Hemorheology; Humans; Intracranial Arteriosclerosis; Lipid Peroxidation; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; Quercetin; Sleep Wake Disorders; Tinnitus; Vertigo

Biochemical studies on large groups of apparently healthy women taking oral contraceptives are intended to find which organs and tissues are most stressed, in the hope than an indication of clinical side effects will result. If contraceptive steroid dose is reduced, the incidence of systemic side effects decreases and this correlates well with the decreased abnormality of many metabolic and biochemical parameters. Reduction of dosage has an equivocal effect on gynaecological side affects-some increase, some decrease. An account is given of the possible relationship between clinical side effects of oral contraceptives, and dose-related changes in plasma proteins, vitamin status and tissue enzymes.

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Contraceptives, Oral; Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Headache; Humans; Hypertension; Libido; Male; Monoamine Oxidase; Prolactin; Pyridoxine; Receptors, Estrogen; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; Thiamine

Topics: Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar; Aging; Angioedema; Ascorbic Acid; Common Cold; Food; Headache; History, 20th Century; Hormones; Humans; Respiratory Insufficiency; Therapeutics

Topics: Analgesics; Ascorbic Acid; Female; Headache; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Rheumatic Diseases; Salicylates

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Aspirin; Brain Concussion; Cerebral Ventriculography; Cortisone; Diphenhydramine; Electroencephalography; Headache; Hematoma, Subdural; Histamine H1 Antagonists; Humans; Hypotension; Injections, Intravenous; Procaine; Radiography; Spinal Puncture; Thiamine; Unconsciousness; Vision Disorders; Vitamin B 12