Welcome to our Summer 2023 RA Q&A column. This is the third in a series of articles created to share our responses to inquiries about Raynaud’s, symptoms, products, treatments, and more. We hope our readers are finding it helpful in addressing some of their own questions.
Has there been any study on niacin or beets to help with blood flow?
To your question about niacin, also known as vitamin B-3, it does cause blood vessels to dilate, increasing blood flow to the skin. This has led scientists to believe that niacin supplements may be useful in treating Raynaud’s. However, we’re not aware of any definitive clinical proof that niacin, or any other natural supplements, have been found to significantly help Raynaud’s sufferers.
We did found one study involving beetroot juice and blood flow related to Raynaud’s: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31343948/. While the results were positive regarding improved blood flow in patients’ thumbs, nothing is stated about the findings on other digits, and you can only draw limited conclusions from a single research panel.
To date, The body of knowledge on nutritional supplements and dietary options to help Raynaud’s sufferers is unfortunately limited. Most studies use very small samples. Some are of questionable quality or involve conflicts of interest. And the lack of consistent study methodologies makes it difficult to interpret results across research efforts. From a pure medical standpoint, only calcium channel blockers, along with nitroglycerin-based topical drugs, have been clinically proven to help alleviate Raynaud’s symptoms. The ED drugs (Cialis, Viagra) are also proving quite effective for those with severe symptoms.
Wish we had more data to work with, but unfortunately it’s still very limited.
I am older, physically healthy & very active including a daily yoga practice – all good EXCEPT that I suffer from COLD FEET and it seems to be getting worse and affecting my quality of Life – so I want to do something about it.
I don’t have an “official” diagnosis – but perhaps it’s Raynaud’s? (Hands sometimes get cold, but they warm up.) My doctor has me on a starter dosage of Amlodipine 2.5 mg 2x day – can’t see (yet?) that it’s making a difference.
Question: is there a video of a bio-feedback session that I could get? I think that imagery, etc. could help me and it certainly couldn’t hurt.
It’s difficult to say if your discomfort and pain is specific to Raynaud’s, but if your hands and feet are painful and possibly change colors (white, blue) when exposed to cold temperatures or stress, it could be the explanation.
The drug your doctor prescribed is in the family of calcium channel blockers. These meds are clinically proven to help alleviate Raynaud’s symptoms, but you need to give them time and work up to the maximum dosage you can tolerate, so they won’t necessarily offer instant relief. If you then find they aren’t helping, or you experience side effects, ask for another drug in the category, as they all work a bit differently with our bodies.
For those with the primary form of Raynaud’s (not a by-product of a serious autoimmune disorder), biofeedback and other self-help techniques can potentially help. It does require a commitment and practice, but it sounds like you’re mentally ready to give it a good try!
We don’t have specific videos on the use of biofeedback for Raynaud’s, but here’s an article we published on the subject: Biofeedback Therapy For Raynaud’s Disease Symptoms. It references an organization called the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, along with contact information for them and a link to their website. We did search their site for information related to Raynaud’s, but unfortunately didn’t locate any. If you call or send them a contact form, they may be able to provide some useful information. Here’s the link to their Contact Form: https://aapb.org/form.php?form_id=13
Hope you’re finding our information helpful. Keep up the yoga – it’s good for the body and the soul!
I’ve had Raynaud’s syndrome for decades, and have learned to live with it. It hasn’t been a problem until this past winter. I noticed my fingers going white whenever the temp got below 60 degrees. It’s gotten to the point at times, I can’t get my fingers to work because there’s no circulation. My PC Doctor said to wear gloves (duh!) and hold a hot beverage in my hands. Other than that she can’t help me. I’m so frustrated that we’ve considered moving to a warmer state when my husband retires in a couple of years. I am pretty healthy, don’t drink or smoke, not overweight. Is there nothing out there to help with this condition? Can a worsening condition be related to other diseases? Please help.
It’s unfortunate that so many doctors make light of Raynaud’s without offering to help their patients. Frankly, moving to a warmer climate isn’t the solution for everyone with Raynaud’s. Many buildings are air conditioned year-round, and – if you don’t have control over your daily environment – it can be very challenging to work in an office or retail store that’s colder than your threshold temperature every day. Moving is also stressful, as you may leave family and support systems behind, along with other life changes involved in a physical move, and stress is a key trigger for Raynaud’s attacks. So if you choose to move for lifestyle reasons and have a good plan for acclimating to the new surroundings, maybe have local family and friends to connect with, etc., it can be a good thing. But moving specifically for the warmer weather can be disappointing.
To your question about Raynaud’s and other diseases, it can be secondary to a serious autoimmune disease, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma and others. A doctor (usually a rheumatologist) will conduct tests to determine if a patient’s Raynaud’s is the primary form or a by-product of another disorder. Those with the secondary form tend to have more severe symptoms, but they are the minority of Raynaud’s sufferers, less than 10%. The majority have the milder primary form of the condition.
Regarding “help” from a medical professional, there are treatment options, including oral and topical medications. Here’s an article from our blog that outlines the options available: Treatment Options for Raynaud’s Phenomenon.
Hope the above information is helpful. Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.
I was prescribed low-dose naltrexone for another condition, and my Raynaud’s problems have not occurred since, even though I stopped taking it (it aggravated a separate GI condition). When I read about it, I learned that it is supposed to help Raynaud’s. Here is a website about it. https://ldnresearchtrust.org/what-is-low-dose-naltrexone-ldn. My Raynaud’s may have just gone into remission temporarily, but I thought I would alert you to this, if you don’t already know about it.
Thanks for your inquiry, as we’ve not to date heard of this drug being used for Raynaud’s. A Google search brought up this article: Is Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) Useful in Raynaud’s Syndrome? It states “It depends on what is causing the Raynaud’s. If it’s diagnosed as an autoimmune (disease) then LDN can definitely be helpful because it can reduce the inflammation.” That’s because those with the condition secondary to an autoimmune ailment may have inflammation that can narrow the blood vessels. However, we don’t see any sources claiming the drug can work on patients with the primary form of Raynaud’s (90% of sufferers).
Keep in mind that the source of both articles we found is the LDN Research Trust. Their mission is “to initiate clinical trials of Low Dose Naltrexone for autoimmune diseases and cancers.” So, while they have nonprofit status, this group has a vested interest in promoting uses of the LDN.
In any case, thanks for bringing this to our attention. It may be a useful option for those with Raynaud’s secondary to autoimmune conditions.
We’d appreciate your feedback on our Summer 2023 RA Q&A column. Have questions for us? We’re not medical professionals or the Good Housekeeping Lab when it comes to testing products, but we’ll do our best to provide fellow Frosties with answers. Write to us at info@raynauds.org.
