ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2017 April;176(4):149-53

DOI: 10.23736/S0393-3660.16.03444-6

Copyright © 2016 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Effects of a novel MYRLIQ®, Ginkgo Biloba, Q10 and vitamin B2 (riboflavin) based nutraceutical in patients suffering from migraine headache without aura or sporadic episodes of tension-type headache. A six-month pilot study

Leonardo SCARZELLA ^{1, 2} ✉

¹ Piero Pietro e Giovanni Ferrero Foundation, Alba, Cuneo, Italy; ² Unit of Neurology, Hospital of Biella, Biella, Italy

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the tolerability and efficacy of a novel MYRLIQ®, Ginkgo Biloba, Q10, and vitamin B2 based nutraceutical product (NP) in migraine headache without aura (MHWA) and tension-type headache (TTH).
METHODS: An open-label, prospective trial was conducted. Adult subjects of both genders were assigned to two groups according to the diagnosis (IHS guideline criteria): MHWA N.=28 or TTH N.=21. Subjects were to take NP for 7 days in the event of a headache attack over a period of 6 months. The severity of pain was measured on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), blood was drawn to determine interleukin IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α plasma levels, and quality of life was assessed by asking the subject to fill in the SF-36 questionnaire (simplified version) at baseline and after 7 days of treatment. Subjects were asked to report any recurrences.
RESULTS: NP reduced VAS Score on average by two-thirds in both groups (MHWA P<0.03 and TTH P<0.01). The improvement in pain was associated with an important improvement in quality of life. NP reduced all three cytokines significantly by 40-60.7%. The highest reductions were recorded for IL-8 and TNF-α (54.4-60.5%) and were consistently more pronounced in TTH subjects. The recurrence rate was 12% in MHWA subjects 10% in TTH subjects. No adverse events were reported.
CONCLUSIONS: NP, thanks to the presence of MYRLIQ®, which possesses anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anesthetic properties, should be considered an alternative therapeutic option for the two most common types of headache, namely MHWA and TTH.

KEY WORDS: Migraine disorders - Tension-type headache - Dietary supplements - Ginkgo Biloba