286 | id == 286
286 | category_id == 19
286 | category_order == 16
286 | category_name == Pain
286 | category_color == #C47AC0
286 | slug == DBH-migraine
286 | title == Is This Gene Protecting You From Migraine? (DBH)
286 | meta_description == Variants of DBH have been associated with migraine. Learn more here.
286 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong>The <em>DBH</em> gene codes for an enzyme named dopamine beta-hydroxylase. A variant of <em>DBH</em> has been associated with decreased risk of migraine. Read more to learn about this variant.</strong></p>
286 | overall_score_text == Your Migraine Score (based on DBH gene)
286 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/DBH--Pain-Headaches-Migraine.jpg
286 | author_id == 14
286 | author_name == Shany Lahan
286 | author_title == MS (Neuroscience)
286 | author_order == 5
286 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Shany.webp
286 | author_intro == <p>Shany received her MSc in Neuroscience from Western University.</p>    <p>Prior to joining SelfDecode, Shany conducted research related to Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease, and taught science to undergraduate students. She believes that research should be accessible to everyone, regardless of scientific background. Shany joined SelfDecode&nbsp;with a mission to help others optimize their health and wellbeing &ndash; as well as help them understand the science behind it all.</p>
286 | reviewer == None
286 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
286 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
286 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
286 | publish_date == 2020
286 | publish_date == 8
286 | publish_date == 25
286 | avg_rating == 5.0
286 | tags_id == 636
286 | tags_name == DBH Gene
286 | tags_id == 51
286 | tags_name == Dopamine
286 | tags_id == 637
286 | tags_name == Dopamine Beta-Hydroxylase
286 | tags_id == 31
286 | tags_name == Migraine
286 | tags_id == 52
286 | tags_name == Norepinephrine
286 | tags_id == 71
286 | tags_name == Pain
286 | permissions_favorite == False
286 | permissions_rate == False
286 | content_article == <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>DBH</em>, Dopamine, &amp; Norepinephrine</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a href="../../../gene/dbh/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">DBH </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> codes for dopamine beta-hydroxylase, an enzyme that converts </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/dopamine/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">dopamine</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/norepinephrine-stress-hormone/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">norepinephrine</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in the brain.&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Norepinephrine can promote the constriction of blood vessels (vasoconstriction), which may influence migraine.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Migraines are persistent headaches that are often accompanied by a range of symptoms, such as nausea, dizziness, and sensitivity to loud sounds and bright lights [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4846438/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18255055/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/migraine"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although the cause of migraine is largely unclear, many studies point to prolonged widening of blood vessels (vasodilation) in the brain as a contributor to this cause [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14979884/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>DBH </em>Variants &amp; Migraine</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs1611115 is a polymorphism that</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">alters the expression of <em>DBH</em>, and </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">accounts for 35-52% of all dopamine beta-hydroxylase activity. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs1611115 </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">is therefore the most common SNP associated with activity of this enzyme [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1015243/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12730829/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Decreased expression of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">DBH </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">would result in a decreased amount of dopamine beta-hydroxylase that is present at any one time within the brain. As a result of this, dopamine would not be able to be converted to norepinephrine, and dopamine levels would build up in the brain. Simultaneously, norepinephrine levels would be decreased [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1015243/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14979884/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Indeed, the levels of norepinephrine in migraine sufferers (migraineurs) have been shown to be lower than those of healthy controls [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1015243/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14979884/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs1611115-T has been associated with a decreased risk of migraine, and is less common in migraineurs. Interestingly, this same variant has been associated with increased migraine-related side effects, such as vomiting, in individuals with migraine [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19219470/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The mechanism behind </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs1611115-T and its potential protective effects in relation to migraine is largely unclear; however, the mechanism likely involves impaired regulation of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">DBH </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene expression [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14979884/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]. </span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The <em>DBH </em>rs1611115-T polymorphism influences the amount of dopamine beta-hydroxylase in the brain. Although the mechanisms are unclear, rs1611115-T has been observed to reduce migraine risk, while increasing the risk of migraine-related side effects in individuals with migraine.&nbsp;</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Your <em>DBH </em>Results for Migraine</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*5055002208199544*</p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>SNP Summary and Table</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Primary SNP:</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>DBH </em></strong><a href="../../../snp/rs1611115/"><strong>rs1611115</strong></a></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Not associated with migraine. Decreased risk of migraine-related side effects.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Decreased risk of migraine. Increased risk of migraine-related side effects.</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;">*8599726882695027*</p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Recommendations for Migraine</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*1524306062602667*</p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Lifestyle</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Cold Therapy</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cold therapy involves applying a cold compress (such as a bag of frozen vegetables or ice pack) to the head and/or neck. A study of 28 migraine patients determined that application of a cold head cap for just 25 minutes significantly improved migraine severity [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1697736/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although the mechanism behind cold therapy is unclear, it is possible that cold therapy can overwhelm the pain signals that nerves transmit to the brain. Additionally, cold temperatures have been shown to increase norepinephrine levels, which can promote vasoconstriction and prevent the release of migraine-associated immune system substances (histamines). All of the above have been shown to reduce migraine severity and duration [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3941818/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10444630/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3243707/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2584002/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11975819/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1697736/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3727573/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Cold therapy involves applying a cold compress to the head or neck. Cold therapy has been shown to increase norepinephrine levels and promote the constriction of blood vessels, which can reduce migraine severity and duration.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Diet</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Caffeine</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/caffeine-benefits/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Caffeine</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is able to bind the same receptor as adenosine, a compound that can induce sleepiness by increasing vasodilation. When bound to this receptor, caffeine can physically block adenosine from binding. This prevents sleepiness and promotes vasoconstriction [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19219847/#:~:text=Caffeine%20is%20a%20commonly%20used,the%20vasoconstrictive%20effects%20of%20caffeine."><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10556993/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">As prolonged vasodilation is thought to contribute to migraine, it&rsquo;s no surprise that caffeine is a component of numerous FDA-approved headache and migraine medications [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16618262/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Other common migraine medications include those prescribed by physicians, such as sumatriptan. Sumatriptan is part of a class of drugs (triptans) that relieve migraine-associated pain by increasing vasoconstriction. It&rsquo;s important to note that combining triptans with caffeine can promote excessive vasoconstriction, which can lead to side effects such as increased blood pressure and heart attack -- especially in those that have a history of hypertension or heart disease. It&rsquo;s best to consult with your doctor before combining any prescription drugs, including triptans, with caffeine [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554507/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3452288/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10074961/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Interestingly, caffeine has been shown to decrease the efficacy of triptans in a small study of 108 migraine patients [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4975726/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Caffeine might help relieve migraine-associated pain by constricting blood vessels. To prevent unwanted side effects, individuals taking triptans (and other drugs) should consult with their doctor before combining these drugs with caffeine.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Supplements</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Folic Acid (Folate, Vitamin B9)</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/16-proven-benefits-vitamin-b9-folate-folic-acid/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Folic acid</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (also known as folate or vitamin B9) may help to reduce migraine by increasing expression of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">DBH</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Specifically, increased expression of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">DBH </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">may promote vasoconstriction via increased production of norepinephrine [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25006883/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a clinical trial, 52 individuals with migraine with aura were given daily supplements of 2 mg of folic acid, in combination with 25 mg of </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/vitamin-b6/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">vitamin B6</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and 400 micrograms of </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/vitamin-b12/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">vitamin B12</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. After 6 months, these migraineurs experienced lower migraine incidence, frequency, and severity, in comparison to healthy controls [</span><a href="https://thejournalofheadacheandpain.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s10194-016-0652-7"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Folic acid may increase <em>DBH</em> gene expression and promote the constriction of blood vessels, which may reduce migraine incidence, frequency, and severity.</span></p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Magnesium</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Almost half of all migraine patients have been reported to be deficient in </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/21-proven-science-based-reasons-magnesium-amazing-including-drawbacks/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">magnesium</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, suggesting that these migraineurs may benefit from magnesium supplementation [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22426836/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">While 400 mg is the general recommended dose of magnesium, a systematic review of 5 clinical trials found that 600 mg of magnesium (in the form of a magnesium salt) was possibly effective for migraine prevention [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22426836/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29131326/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although more studies are needed to determine its exact role in migraine prevention, magnesium has been linked to effects on vasoconstriction and vasodilation, <a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/serotonin-happy-neurotransmitter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">serotonin</a>, and nitric oxide [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19271946/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4884497/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Magnesium supplements may help to prevent migraine.</span></p>
286 | content_snp_table_5055002208199544_key == 5055002208199544
286 | content_snp_table_5055002208199544_blur == True
286 | content_snp_table_5055002208199544_hidden == False
286 | content_learn_more_8599726882695027_key == 8599726882695027
286 | content_learn_more_8599726882695027_blur == True
286 | content_learn_more_8599726882695027_hidden == False
286 | content_learn_more_8599726882695027_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your DBH gene is not associated with migraine. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of migraine; it’s just one gene related to it. Increasing caffeine intake, cold therapy, and magnesium and folic acid supplements may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
286 | content_recommendation_1524306062602667_key == 1524306062602667
286 | content_recommendation_1524306062602667_blur == True
286 | content_recommendation_1524306062602667_hidden == False
rsIDs = rs1611115
rsStatus = rs1611115,DBH,chr9,133635393,T,A,C,G,30,0,Normal
