leptin and Headache

Migraine is a disabling neurogenic disorder characterized by recurrent headache attacks. Adipokines act as inflammatory and pain mediators that contribute to migraine pathogenesis. Leptin and adiponectin levels change in migraine patients and are associated with headache attacks. Curcumin can exert modulatory and analgesic effects on adipokines through several mechanisms, from gene expression to suppressing pain. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of nano-curcumin supplementation on leptin and adiponectin gene expression, their serum levels and migraine symptoms in patients with migraine.. Forty-four episodic migraine patients enrolled in this trial were divided into two groups as nano-curcumin (80 mg/day) and placebo group, over a two-month period. At the beginning and the end of the study, the mRNA expression of leptin and adiponectin from isolated PBMCs and their serum levels were measured using real-time PCR and ELISA method, respectively. The headache frequencies, severity and duration of pain were also recorded.. The results of the present research showed that nano-curcumin can up-regulate adiponectin mRNA and increase its serum level significantly (P < 0.05). In the case of leptin, a reduction in gene expression and concentration was found in the nano-curcumin group but it was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Nano-curcumin also significantly reduced the frequency, severity and duration of headaches (P < 0.05).. These findings indicate that nano-curcumin supplement can be considered as a promising approach to migraine management and clinical symptoms improvement.

Topics: Adipokines; Adiponectin; Curcumin; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; Gene Expression; Headache; Humans; Leptin; Migraine Disorders; RNA, Messenger

The eating disorders (ED) anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) are important psychiatric and somatic conditions occurring mainly in young women. The aetiology is unknown, but there are social, biological and psychological factors that play a relevant role in the pathogenesis, along with multiple endocrine abnormalities. Hypothalamic monoamines (especially serotonin), neuropeptides (especially neuropeptide Y and cholecystokinin) and leptin are involved in the regulation of the human appetite. ED share with migraine the same metabolic profile and aspect of psychiatric and psychological conditions. In support of this hypothesis in one study, it has been shown that the incidence of migraine is high in these patients; and it has been shown that the incidence in a female group that suffers from migraine was greater than in the normal population. In order to understand the possible relationship between migraine and ED, we have investigated the incidence of primary headache in a group of AN and BN patients. The result of this study shows that the prevalence of migraine in women affected by AN and BN is very high (75%) in comparison to the general population (12.5% headache incidence in normal population). In most patients the onset of migraine attacks began before or at the same time as the symptoms of AN and BN. We suggest that migraine is a predisposing condition for the occurence of AD in young women.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Biogenic Monoamines; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Female; Headache; Humans; Hypothalamus; Incidence; Leptin; Middle Aged; Neuropeptides

Pituitary adenomas are usually sporadic, although rare familial cases have been described. Here we report two first degree female cousins with giant pituitary adenoma and overweight. Both presented with secondary amenorrhoea, occasional headache and weight gain.. In both patients clinical, morphological and genetic studies were performed. Both patients underwent surgery and post-operative medical therapy with somatostatin analogues and dopamine agonist, followed by a conventional radiotherapy course.. Clinical examination at presentation revealed an acromegaloid habitus only in the second patient. Basal and dynamic hormonal evaluation showed high serum GH and serum IGF-I values, higher in the second than in the first patient, and a mild hyperprolactinaemia only in the first patient. On optical and electron microscopy, both tumours were oncocytic adenomas, immunopositive for GH in the first patient and GH/prolactin in the second. The genetic analysis for germ-line mutations of the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 gene was negative. Two years after radiotherapy a remarkable shrinkage of both tumours was observed, whereas the overweight worsened in both patients, accompanied by high plasma leptin values.. To our knowledge, this is the first report of familial pituitary adenomas including one case of a clinically silent GH-secreting adenoma. In addition, it provides further evidence that familial pituitary tumours can occur as a multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 unrelated disease.

Topics: Adenoma; Adult; Amenorrhea; Anthropometry; DNA Mutational Analysis; Family Health; Female; Genetic Testing; Headache; Human Growth Hormone; Humans; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Leptin; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Microscopy, Electron; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1; Mutation; Pituitary Neoplasms; Prolactin; Weight Gain