[Endogenous opioid system in the realization of the analgesic effect of alpha-tocopherol in reference to algomenorrhea]

Biull Eksp Biol Med. 1988 Feb;105(2):148-50.
[Article in Russian]

Abstract

Beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity was studied in 7 patients with algomenorrhea during pain attack and 15 minutes after alpha-tocopherol administration with a therapeutic aim (till the analgetic effect was reached). There was an increase in beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity after alpha-tocopherol administration. Naloxone administration to 9 patients with algomenorrhea of various etiology resumed the pain. The effect of alpha-tocopherol application for pain relief depended on the pathogenesis of algomenorrhea. At the same time naloxone administration failed to resume the pain in patients, in whom alpha-tocopherol had a strong analgetic effect. It is assumed that the endogenous opioid system participates in alpha-tocopherol effect on pain relief in patients with algomenorrhea.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analgesia / methods*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Dysmenorrhea / blood*
  • Dysmenorrhea / drug therapy
  • Endorphins / blood*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Menstruation / drug effects
  • Naloxone / pharmacology
  • Tocopherols
  • Vitamin E / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vitamin E / therapeutic use
  • alpha-Tocopherol* / analogs & derivatives*
  • beta-Endorphin / blood

Substances

  • Endorphins
  • Vitamin E
  • Naloxone
  • beta-Endorphin
  • alpha-Tocopherol
  • Tocopherols