Phyto-oestrogens in the prophylaxis of menstrual migraine

Falling levels of estrogen is the major provocative factor in migraine associated with menstruation.

We assessed the efficacy of the combination of two phyto-oestrogens, as perimenstrual, prophylactic treatment of menstrual migraine and tested their effect on cerebral haemodynamic.

Women with a history of menstrual migraine (i.e., attacks occurring exclusively on day 1+/-2 days of menstruation and at no other time of the cycle) were included in the study. Eleven women fulfilling the inclusion criteria underwent to a 3-month cyclic treatment with 56 mg of genisteine and 20 mg of diadzeine per day. Transcranial doppler evaluation (TCD) was performed at baseline and after treatment.

Among the ten women who completed the study the average number of days with migraine during the baseline period decreased significantly after 3 months of therapy (P < 0.005). There were no major side-effects. Therapy did not affect cerebral blood flow velocities.

Phyto-oestrogens appear to be an effective treatment in menstrual migraine prophylaxis. This effect seems to be unrelated to cerebral hemodynamic. Placebo-controlled trials on larger number of patients are necessary to confirm our findings.