nielshs, Dec. 2009
Nitric oxide (NO) is a very important molecule in regulating blood flow and expanding / narrowing of the arteries in the brain. Professor Jes Olesen , University of Copenhagen describes in the article "The role of nitric oxide (NO) in migraine, tension-type headache and cluster headache" a correlation between increased levels of NO and cluster headache attacks. Blocking of NO synthesis has proven to be very effective treatment of migraine and cluster headache. In conclusion, inhibition of NO production may be targets for new drugs for treating cluster headache and it’s already in early clinical development.
If increased nitric oxide is the trigger of cluster headache attacks, then there must be a relation between inhalation of 100 % pure oxygen and the level of nitric oxide.
Masahiko Tsuchiya et al made an examination in order to understand the relationship between oxygen (oxygen) and nitrogen oxide (NO). In the trial 21 non-smokers were selected and divided into 2 groups. One group (n = 12) received 100% pure oxygen and the second group (n = 9) received 40% pure oxygen. In the group receiving 40% pure oxygen there was no effect of the NO concentration in the blood. But in the group receiving 100% pure oxygen, there was a significant reduction of NO in all 12 subjects.
The result shows that inhalation of 100% pure oxygen inhibits the level of nitric oxide in the blood and strengthens Jes Olesen's hypothesis that increased nitric oxide content in the blood is the trigger in cluster headache attacks.
E Carcion et al published in 2002 the article "New clues about vitamin D functions in the nervous system" which describes the role of vitamin D3 in the brain. The probably most interesting is that vitamin D3 inhibit the NO production and have an important role in brain detoxification pathways. Vitamin D3 also increases the powerful antioxidant glutathione, a very powerful enzyme in the human body.
The property of vitamin D3 in inhibition of NO production indicates that vitamin D3 may be very powerful in treating cluster headache. Vitamin-D3 has shown to have protective and healing properties in the human body if the level is between 50-80 ng/ml.
Source reference:
The role of nitric oxide (NO) in Migraine, tension-type headache and cluster headache.
J. Olesen University of Copenhagen, Department of Neurology 2008:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18789357
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., Volume 162, Number 4, October 2000, 1257-1261
Masahiko Tsuchiya et al, 2000:
http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org/cgi/content/full/162/4/1257
New clues about vitamin D functions in the nervous system.
Garvcion E et al, 2002:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11893522
Understanding Vitamin D Cholecalciferol:
http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/
