Fruit and vegetable consumption in relation to primary headaches: the MEPHASOUS study

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Epidemiology
• Neurology
• Public Health

Background:

• Fruit and vegetable intake may reduce primary headache risk due to antioxidants.
• Previous research has not explored this association in university students.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and primary headaches in Iranian university students.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving 83,214 university students (age ≥ 18).
• Dietary habits assessed using validated questionnaires.
• Primary headaches diagnosed using International Classification of Headache Disorders-3 (ICHD-3) criteria.

Main Results:

• Higher fruit intake correlated with 30% lower odds of primary headaches (OR: 0.70).
• Increased vegetable consumption linked to 16% reduced odds (OR: 0.84).
• Inverse associations varied by gender and were observed in normal-weight students.

Conclusions:

• Fruit and vegetable consumption are associated with decreased odds of primary headaches.
• Dietary interventions focusing on fruits and vegetables may help manage primary headaches in student populations.