Diet and migraine: what is proven?

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Nutrition Science
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Migraine is a complex neurological disorder influenced by various factors, including diet.
• Identifying specific dietary triggers and effective dietary interventions is crucial for migraine management.

Approach:

• This review synthesizes recent research on the diet-migraine relationship.
• It examines current clinical applications and areas requiring further investigation.
• Evidence for ketogenic diet (KD) and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) in migraine management is evaluated.

Key Points:

• Specific foods like coffee and alcohol can trigger migraines.
• Personalized elimination diets are essential for effective dietary management.
• The ketogenic diet (KD) and DASH diet show efficacy in reducing migraine frequency, duration, and severity.
• Alterations in the gut microbiome are observed in migraine patients, suggesting potential benefits of prebiotics and probiotics.
• Advanced digital technology can support personalized dietary plans and patient adherence.

Conclusions:

• The interaction between diet and migraine is bidirectional and requires careful, individualized management.
• Further research is needed to fully understand the role of the gut microbiome and optimize dietary strategies for migraine.
• Personalized dietary interventions, considering lifestyle, age, sex, and life phases, are key to successful migraine management.