Abstract: Provided are compositions and methods for use for prolonging pregnancy. The methods involve administering to an individual in need thereof an effective amount of a composition that contains a compound which is capable of specifically binding to an alpha2delta subunit of a voltage-gated calcium channel, such as gabapentin, pregabalin, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and prodrugs thereof The composition is administered such that pregnancy is prolonged to by reducing, stopping, preventing and/or preventing recurrence of preterm labor during a human pregnancy. Also provides are articles of manufacture that have packaging containing one or a combination of compounds that are capable of specifically binding an alpha2delta subunit of a voltage-gated calcium channel. The compound is provided in an amount sufficient for alleviating and/or preventing preterm labor in a pregnant human female.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reducing the amount of homocysteine in the blood of an individual. The method comprises administering to the individual a composition comprising a homocysteine lowering agent in an amount effective to lower the amount of homocysteine in the blood of the individual. The homocysteine lowering agent is selected from A dipeptides consisting of isoleucine, leucine, valine, or glycine and combinations thereof; tripeptides consisting of isoleucine, leucine, valine, or glycine and combinations thereof; alpha-ketobutyrate; propionyl A CoA, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method of treating a patient for a condition characterized by symptoms that can be alleviated by interfering with or supplementing the activity of endogenous ligands on the a2S subunit of a voltage gated calcium channel, said method comprising: administering to a patient experiencing the condition an amount of one or more of L-norleucine, L-isoleucine, L-alloisoleucine, L-methionine, Lleucine, 2-cyclohexylglycine, 2-phenylglycine, 2-amino-2-norbornane carboxylic acid, 1-aminocyclohexane carboxylic acid, 2-aminoheptanoic acid, 2-aminocaprylic acid, and 2-aminononanoic acid under conditions effective to treat the condition, wherein when the condition is a hot flash or a symptom of hormonal variation, the compound is not L-leucine.