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Raynaud's and the outdoors
I love being outside, working in the garden but I suffer from Raynaud’s syndrome which can make it almost impossible to leave the house at this time of the year. I have read that fish oil, vitamin B3, evening primrose oil, magnesium and ginkgo biloba supplements may help. What do you think?
Raynauds disease, which affects an estimated 10 million Britons, is the result of the constriction of the small arteries (arterioles) in the fingers and toes which can go into spasm causing the skin to turn pale or blue and the fingers and toes to go numb. It can also affect the nose, cheeks and tips of the ears which will throb, tingle and even swell when the circulation returns to normal. Most common in younger women, it usually happens after exposure to the cold and so is more of a problem at this time of the year.
The reason evening primrose oil is recommended is that it inhibits the action of substances called prostaglandins which are found naturally in the body and which can otherwise promote the constriction of blood vessels. In research trials, daily doses of between 3,000 and 6,000mg are used to help reduce both the number and the severity of attacks.
A deficiency in magnesium which can also result in spasms of the blood vessels can also cause similar symptoms to Raynaud’s disease which is why, although there are no clinical trials to support the theory, some nutritionists will recommend a daily dose of between 200-600mg of this mineral.
One supplement which has been shown to make a difference to sufferers is L-carnitine. In a 20-day pilot study, where 12 sufferers were given 1g of this vitamin-like nutrient three times a day, all those taking part reported less blood vessel spasms in their fingertips after being in the cold.
In this country, researchers at the University of Dundee are currently investigating claims made for the herb gingko biloba, which is said to promote better circulation in the smaller arteries. The new double-blind clinical trial was prompted by the promising initial results of a unofficial study carried out by the UK Raynaud’s Association which had asked its members to try out Seredrin, a then new product which contained the herb. The results of the Dundee research will be published later this year. Until then, take the equivalent of 40mg of this herb, three times a day.
*Seredrin provides 120mg of standardised Ginkgo extract in each tablet. It is on sale in all good health stores where 30 capsules cost £9.99