ABSTRACT
Introduction: Migraine is a disabling neurovascular disorder characterized by increasing levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress biomarkers. Curcumin and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) can exert neuroprotective effects through modulation of inflammation and oxidative stress. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the combined effects of nano-curcumin and CoQ10 supplementation on migraine symptoms and quality of life in migraine patients.
Methods: One-hundred men and women (mean age 32 years) with episodic migraine based on the International Headache Society (IHS) criteria participated in this study. The subjects were randomly divided into four groups as (1) combination of nano-curcumin (80 mg) plus CoQ10 (300 mg), (2) nano-curcumin (80 mg), (3) CoQ10 (300 mg) and (4) the control (nano-curcumin and CoQ10 placebo included oral paraffin oil) beside usual prophylactic drugs for 8 weeks. Frequency, severity, duration of headache attacks, the headache diary results (HDR) and headache disability based on migraine-specific questionnaires were assessed at the baseline and end of the study.
Results: Ninety-one of 100 patients completed the study. The results showed a significant effect of nano-curcumin and CoQ10 supplementation on frequency, severity, duration of migraine attacks and HDR compared to other groups (All P < 0.001). Nano-curcumin and CoQ10 group also had better scores in migraine-specific questionnaires at the end of the study compared to other groups (All P < 0.001). There were no side effects reported by the participants.
Conclusions: These findings suggest a possible synergistic effect of nano-curcumin and CoQ10 on clinical features of migraine.
Trial registration number: IRCT2017080135444N1.
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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
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Notes on contributors
Mohammad Parohan
Mohammad Parohan is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences and a researcher in Students’ Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. His research focuses on cellular and molecular nutrition, and clinical nutrition.
Payam Sarraf
Payam Sarraf is professor of neurosciences in Iranian Centre of Neurological Research, Department of Neurology, Imam Khomeini Hospital, at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. His research is focused on neurological disorders and neurosurgery treatments.
Mohammad Hassan Javanbakht
Mohammad Hassan Javanbakht is professor of nutritional sciences in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. His research focuses on cellular and molecular nutrition, nutrigenomics and epigenetics.
Abbas Rahimi Foroushani
Abbas Rahimi Foroushani is professor of biostatistics and epidemiology in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. His research focuses on biostatistics and epidemiology.
Sakineh Ranji-Burachaloo
Sakineh Ranji-Burachaloo is professor of neurosciences in Iranian Centre of Neurological Research, Department of Neurology, Imam Khomeini Hospital, at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Her research is focused on neurological disorders.
Mahmoud Djalali
Mahmoud Djalali is professor of nutritional sciences in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. His research focuses on cellular and molecular nutrition, nutrigenomics and epigenetics.