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In the news: Air Pollution, Omega-3s & the Brain; Riboflavin May Help Migraine in Children

Can Omega-3s Help Protect the Brain from Pollution?

A number of studies have connected air pollution to increased risk of lung and heart disease. Research also suggests that exposure to air pollution may affect the health of our brain as well.

The brain shrinks as we get older, including white matter – the tissue found deep in the brain. White matter contains nerve fibers that connect other parts of the brain and spinal cord, allowing us to think fast and walk straight for example.

The results of animal studies suggest that exposure to air pollution might have a pro-inflammatory effect on the brain, while omega-3 fatty acids may play a role in protecting the integrity of white matter structure.

A research team from Columbia University recently investigated whether consuming omega-3 fatty acids might help protect against the potential toxic effects of air pollution and preserve brain volume in older women(1).

The researchers looked at 1,315 dementia-free women aged 65 to 80 years who had participated in an earlier observational study and had undergone structural brain magnetic resonance imaging. Red blood cell content of EPA and DHA was measured as a marker reflecting omega-3 levels in other tissues.

After adjusting for other factors that could affect brain volume, the researchers found that participants with higher levels of EPA and DHA fatty acids in red blood cells had significantly greater volumes of white matter as well as in the hippocampus region of the brain

The results were also in agreement with the participants’ dietary intake of fish: higher consumption, less white matter shrinkage. The study suggests that even moderate dietary intake of 1-2 servings of fish weekly may help counteract the potential harmful effects of air pollution on the brain.

More research is needed to confirm this observation, but the results do offer insight into how a healthy diet might reduce the effects of air pollution on cognitive decline.

Childhood Migraine & Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)

Migraine headache is a common, and often disabling condition that causes painful headaches that can be accompanied by nausea and heightened sensitivity to light, sound, and smells. Though the causes of migraine aren't fully understood, genetics and environmental factors appear to play a role. For some, noise, alcohol, caffeine, certain foods, or stress can trigger a migraine attack.

Researchers think that an imbalance of neuro-transmitters, particularly serotonin might be an underlying factor in some migraine sufferers. Brain energy metabolism has also been found to be abnormal in migraine. This has prompted research into riboflavin,a B vitamin involved in mitochondrial function and energy production.

A recent review(2) of riboflavin and migraine studies concluded that the vitamin reduces the frequency of migraines in adults, though results in children and adolescents have been mixed. The rate of migraine diagnosed among younger groups is increasing, with 11% of those 5-15 years old and 28% of those 15-19 years old found to suffer from migraine. So, identifying safe and helpful ways to manage this condition is important.

A study presented at the 62nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Headache Society in June(3) reports that riboflavin reduced the frequency of headache in 62% of children and adolescents seen by pediatric headache specialists at the University of Texas at Austin. The vitamin also reduced the intensity and the duration of migraines. Children weighing 44-88 lbs. received 100 mg twice daily, while those weighing over 88 lbs. were given 200 mg twice a day.

The results of this study, though not yet published and not placebo controlled, are promising and warrant future research into riboflavin for pediatric migraine.

References

1. Chen C et al. Erythrocyte omega-3 index, ambient fine particle exposure and brain aging. Neurol. July, 2020.
2. Thompson DF and Saluja SH. Review article. Prophylaxis of migraine headaches with riboflavin: A systematic review. J Clin Pharm Ther. 42:394–403, 2017.
3. Practice Update. AHS 2020: Riboflavin reduces monthly headache days significantly in a majority of children and adolescents. June 15, 2020.