Epilepsy and migraines share many features and those with epilepsy have a higher risk of developing migraines, while those with migraines are more likely to develop epilepsy. Anti-epilepsy drugs are commonly used for the preventive treatment of migraines.

A study just published in Neurology by Hong Kong researchers investigated the effectiveness of mindfulness-based therapy and social support in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.

It was a blinded and randomized trial. Sixty patients with drug-resistant epilepsy were randomly allocated to mindfulness therapy or social support (30 per group). Each group received 4 biweekly intervention sessions. They measured quality of life, as well as seizure frequency, mood symptoms, and neurocognitive functions.

Following intervention, both the mindfulness and social support groups had an improved quality of life, but significantly more patients in the mindfulness group had a clinically important improvement. Significantly greater reduction in depressive and anxiety symptoms, seizure frequency, and improvement in delayed memory was observed in the mindfulness group compared with the social support group.

The authors concluded that even short-term mindfulness therapy in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy provides significant benefits.

It is surprising that even seizure frequency was reduced, although stress and lack of sleep can definitely increase seizure frequency. The study did not evaluate the quality or duration of sleep, but mindfulness meditation is know to improve sleep. It also improves migraine headaches (see my previous post).

To start meditating you can download a very popular app, Headspace or read a book by BH Gunaratana, Mindfulness in Plain English or download free podcasts at TaraBrach.com.

Another supplement to consider for the preventive treatment of migraine headaches is diamine oxidase (DAO). It is an enzyme that breaks down histamine.

Histamine is released during an allergic reaction and is present in many foods. It is one of the neurotransmitters that is involved in the process of migraine. A quarter of the population has insufficient amounts of DAO, which leads to inefficient metabolism of histamine. The largest amounts of DAO in the body are found in the intestines and the kidneys.

A group of Spanish neurologists published a study that showed that of 137 patients with migraines, 119 (87%) showed impaired activity of the enzyme.

The normal enzyme activity is a score of at least 80 histamine-degrading units [HDU]/mL. In a survey which was conducted in 2006 and again in 2012, migraine symptom scores correlated with enzyme activity. Symptom scores rose progressively as enzyme activity dropped below 80 HDU/mL, with scores almost twice as high in the 30-40 HDU/mL range compared with enzyme activity >80 HDU/mL.

Dr. Izquierdo and his colleagues in Barcelona conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of DAO oral supplementation, for the prevention of migraines in patients with DAO activity less than 80 HDU/mL.

Participants were men or women age 18 to 60 years old with an attack within the previous 6 months. Most of the patients were women, with only 8 men in each group.

The supplement contained 4.2 mg of DAO which participants took with a glass of water before breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The supplement was associated with a similar reduction in the mean number of attacks per month in the placebo and DAO groups, but the group that took DAO used significantly fewer triptan drugs (such as sumatriptan, Imitrex). These results are not overwhelming, but they possibly hide the fact that some of these patients had a very good response while others had none, which averaged out to a modest benefit. Considering that this a very benign supplement with no potential for serious side effects (unlike prescription drugs), it may be worth trying.

Histamine intolerance is defined by an imbalance of histamine and the histamine degrading enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO), which is mainly produced in the small intestine. Excessive amounts of histamine in the body can cause not only migraine and other types of headaches, but also diarrhea, nasal congestion, asthma, rashes, and other symptoms. People who are prone to severe allergic reactions with anaphylactic shock often have lower DAO activity. Diamine oxidase activity can be measured in blood, but the test is expensive and not very reliable. Instead of doing this test, try a low histamine diet or taking a DAO supplement. This is particularly worthwhile for people who in addition to migraines suffer from colitis (such as Crohn’s), allergic conditions, asthma, and celiac disease.

Here is an informative post on this topic on The Daily Headache blog.

Low vitamin D level predicts larger stroke size and poor outcome, according to a new study by University of Massachusetts researchers. They examined data on 96 consecutive patients with stroke and found a strong inverse correlation between the level of vitamin D and the size of the stroke. This is not surprising since vitamin D seems to be very important for the normal functioning of the nervous system. In a previous post I mentioned a study that showed an inverse correlation between vitamin D level and relapses of multiple sclerosis. Such correlation has been also found with migraine headaches and other major diseases.

Yes, all these studies are correlational and do not prove that taking vitamin D will prevent any of these conditions. But there is no evidence at all that taking vitamin D to maintain your blood level in the normal range has any side effects.

The stroke study was done only in caucasian patients and we know that blacks may need lower levels of vitamin D than caucasians, at least as measured by the standard blood test. This test is not very reliable since it measures the total level of vitamin D, while only the free portion of it is biologically active. To be safe, try to aim to have vitamin D level at least in the middle of normal range, which is from 30 to 100. Many people take the recommended 400 unit dose of vitamin D, but still have low levels in their blood. It is important to check your vitamin D level even if you are taking a supplement. Some patients require 2,000 and even 5,000 units daily to get their blood level to the middle of normal range.

The existence of gluten sensitivity has been long denied by the mainstream medical establishment. A study described in a previous post over two years ago documented higher incidence of migraine headaches in people with gluten sensitivity than in those with celiac disease (56% vs 30%). Celiac disease, which is a severe autoimmune disease caused by wheat allergy, affects about 3 million Americans, but the estimates of gluten sensitivity run as high as 18 million. Billions of dollars of gluten-free products are sold in the US and they can be found in almost every grocery store.

A recent study by the National Institutes of Health led by Dr. Sabatino examined 59 patients who did not have celiac disease, but believed gluten-containing food was causing them intestinal and other symptoms. Every day for one week these people were randomly given capsules containing 5 grams of gluten or a placebo of rice starch. After only one week, those who were taking the gluten pills reported a significant difference in symptoms compared to those who took non-gluten placebo pills. In addition to intestinal pains, they felt abdominal bloating, a foggy mind, depression, and canker sores. Clearly, they didn’t know if they were taking the gluten pill or the placebo, but their symptoms were very revealing and proved the existence of gluten sensitivity.

The bottom line is, if you have stomach pains, bloating, foggy mind, depression, headaches, malaise, and other symptoms, it may be worth going on a gluten-free diet for a couple of weeks to see if your symptoms improve. Unfortunately, we do not have any tests to document this condition, so this is the only way to find out if you have gluten sensitivity.

We do have tests for celiac disease – this condition can be detected by a blood test and an intestinal biopsy done through an endoscopy. However, despite the availability of these tests, even this severe form of gluten sensitivity is diagnosed in only one out of six Americans who suffer from it. And the number of cases of celiac, just like with non-celiac gluten sensitivity, are going up. The incidence of celiac is now five times higher than 50 years ago.

Stomach pains and bloating are the most common symptoms of celiac, but a recent review in JAMA Pediatrics, lists other symptoms, including persistent or intermittent constipation, vomiting, poor appetite, weight loss or growth delay in children, fatigue, anemia, dental problems, canker sores, arthritis and joint pains, bone loss and fractures, short stature, delayed puberty, unexplained infertility and miscarriage, recurring headaches, loss of feeling in hands and feet, poor coordination and unsteadiness, epileptic seizures, depression, hallucinations, anxiety and panic attacks. Many of these symptoms are the result of poor absorption of vitamins and minerals, including magnesium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, and other because of the damaged intestinal lining.

Those with celiac disease are more sensitive to even minute amounts of gluten than people with non-celiac gluten sensitivity.