Completely agree.
The more I look into what it is we are taking, the more it makes a lot of sense...
There's plenty of references out there for taking B6 with Magenesium to help with Fatigue, Depresession, Anxiety, Social Phobia...etc....All things which many of us DO experiences in POIS/
For example: http://www.organicfoodee.com/vms/magcit-vitaminb6/
Amazing stuff.
Kurtosis, what led you onto this combination of Vitamins? and what is your current hypothesis at the moment about why this is working as well as it does?
JT
I discussed it over on the Naked Scientists Forum. I think that POIS is leading to fluctuating catecholamine levels (including dopamine) which is affecting our ability to plan and focus. My hypothesis is autoimmune but problems with metabolism or synthesis of b vitamins can lead to depression, memory loss, hormonal imbalances etc. These can have negative feedback loops. For example, too little b6 (and zinc+magnesium) would reduce testosterone production which would upset the testosterone / oestrogen ratio. This in turn would prevent the body from generating it's own niacin (b3) from the protein tryptophan. You get the idea, it's all related.
Then I looked at my own symptoms. Memory loss, inability to recollect dreams and stomach problems all started with POIS and have worsened as other POIS symptoms worsened. For example, the pain in my head I got when I had an O got worse over time. Inability to remember dreams has been linked to b6 deficiency so that was another hint.
But basically, the cocktail is designed to stimulate production of neurotransmitters, try to increase the secretion of BDNF
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain-derived_neurotrophic_factor and reduce inflammation. Reducing inflammation is one of the most important aspects of POIS treatment as it does appear there is some form of allergy going on here & I've noticed that itches, rashes and sinusitis appear to be linked to the severity of my POIS.
What is causing POIS, I don't know. I've had numerous hypothesis but I can't say whether they apply to everyone here. However, the most likely appears to be an autoimmune disease as POIS has afflicted some sufferers after puberty where the onset was sudden, it appears to be accompanied by other signs of immunological disorder such as allergies or flu-like symptoms & the few of us who have had MRI's have not reported any neurodegeneration so it's not something like alzheimers or parkinsons.
Whether there's a "mechanical" cause to this (the "sperm in the bladder" hypothesis) I don't know. There are at least 2 other things that I think could cause POIS-like symptoms. The first is a tumour of the pituitary gland which could be benign but still upset the body's hormonal balance. I've read that these can sometimes cause vision problems and increase decrease libido also. It's about the only thing I haven't been tested for.
The 2nd is a deficiency in prostaglandin PGE1. This could be the result of a genetic mutation in the 2 genes which are required to synthesise prostaglandins from essential fatty acids (e.g. omega 3 and 6). This is also a promising hypothesis as D6D mutations have been linked to schizophrenia, "brain fog" problems and allergic reactions. If this was the problem then the treatment would involve Gamma linoleic acid (GLA) and omega 3 fatty acids in fish oils. Incidentally, I've seen that stomach problems caused by D6D have been experimentally treated with Ginkgo. Spirulina is high in GLA. I'm not sure it's the best source as it contains many other ingredients that have a stimulating effect. In combination with taurine, spirulina should give you more energy and focus but I can't take more than 3 capsules without feeling a bit manic. It may be too stimulating
If you wish to try other alternatives to supplement GLA then borage oil is also a possibility.
