SYNOPSIS Fatty acid profiles were determined in platelets of 21 patients suffering from Classical Migraine and these results were compared with those obtained in a control group of 24 healthy individuals. Cholesterol levels and the cholesterol/phospholipid ratios of 4 of the migraine patients were investigated and compared with values obtained from 4 age‐matched control persons. No significant differences could be detected between the fatty acid profiles of the migraine and control groups, Analysis of the cholesterol content and the cholesterol/phospholipid ratio of the platelets revealed no significant differences between the two groups. Freeze‐fracture electron microscopy of the platelet membranes of the two groups revealed no striking differences in the protein distribution and environment in the migraine condition. We conclude that the membranes of platelets of migraine‐suffering and control individuals have a similar composition, the symptoms of this disorder thus being mediated by other differences between the platelets.

The lipids of serum lipoproteins as well as the elaidate content of the lipoprotein major lipid classes were compared in fasted and fed rats which were maintained on a diet rich in elaidate. The results suggest that, following each meal, substantial amounts of cholesteryl elaidate formed in the intestinal mucosa pass into the circulation and are mainly transported by very low density lipoproteins.

The important of the educational diagnosis in instructing patients in a fat modified diet was examined in a double blind study. The educational diagnosis depended upon the assessment of three independent instructional parameters: the amount of structure, the teaching mode, and the language code preferred by the patient. Group I (67 patients) received traditional personalized counseling for 3 months. Group IIa (40 patients), whose instruction was matched to their preferred education attributes, was randomized against group IIb (36 patients), whose instruction was mismatched. Group IIIa (33 patients), receving matched instruction was randomized against group IIIb (35 patients), receiving high structure in the symbolic mode of instruction. The greatest reduction in serum cholesterol was seen in group I. At 3 months, no significant difference in serum cholesterol reduction could be shown between groups IIa and IIb, or IIIa and IIIb. However, the mean cholesterol reduction became significantly greater (P less than 0.05) in IIa than IIb at the 6 month visit. Seven day food diaries showed no significant differences in dietary intake and 1 and 3 months between matched and unmatched groups. The data did suggest that patients preferring high structure in the symbolic mode had a greater serum cholesterol reduction that other diagnostic groups. Analysis of variance showed an interaction between the preferred and instructional level of structure as related to the change in total fat, and saturated fat of the diet after 3 months.

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