A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial of Resveratrol Supplementation for Prophylaxis of Hormonal Migraine

Abstract

Resveratrol, a vasoactive phytoestrogen, has beneficial effects on cerebrovascular function. Previous research has shown that hormonal migraineurs have poorer cerebrovascular function than non-migraineur women. We aimed to investigate if resveratrol supplementation for three months could reduce the hormonal migraine burden index (HMBI: the number of days with menstrual migraine per month), reduce migraine-related disability and improve migraine-related quality of life. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover, intervention trial was conducted in 62 hormonal migraineurs (mean age: 37.5 ± 0.8 years). Participants consumed 75 mg of resveratrol or matching placebo capsules twice daily for three months before crossing over to the other treatment arm. Participants completed a daily diary and the Headache Impact Test-6™, Migraine Disability Assessment and Migraine-Specific Quality of Life questionnaires at months 0, 3 and 6. The HMBI was the primary outcome and was calculated using data extracted from the participant’s diary. No differences in the HMBI (p = 0.895), the Headache Impact Test-6™, the Migraine Disability Assessment and Migraine-Specific Quality of Life were found between the resveratrol and placebo treatments. Resveratrol supplementation for three months did not affect the HMBI, the migraine-related disability or quality of life measures in our cohort of hormonal migraineurs.

Enhancing the Bioavailability of Resveratrol: Combine It, Derivatize It, or Encapsulate It?

“…RSV did not seem to improve the cardiometabolic risk factors, sympathetic activity or endothelial dysfunction and did not change endothelium-dependent or endothelium-independent vasodilation [ 84 ]. Moreover, RSV also acts as a vasoactive phytoestrogen, affecting cerebrovascular function [ 85 ], and can also alter cerebral blood flow variables [ 34 ]. Notably, the effect of RSV on patients with migraine was investigated in a three-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, which revealed no worsening or improvement in migraine severity, possibly due to an inadequate duration of treatment or an insufficient/inappropriate dose of RSV [ 85 ].…”

“…Moreover, RSV also acts as a vasoactive phytoestrogen, affecting cerebrovascular function [ 85 ], and can also alter cerebral blood flow variables [ 34 ]. Notably, the effect of RSV on patients with migraine was investigated in a three-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, which revealed no worsening or improvement in migraine severity, possibly due to an inadequate duration of treatment or an insufficient/inappropriate dose of RSV [ 85 ]. In diabetic patients, RSV was able to reduce insulin resistance, thus improving glycemic control [ 86 ], but it had no significant effect on cardiovascular indices or hepatic steatosis in patients with type 2 diabetes [ 87 ].…”

Therapeutic developments for valosin-containing protein mediated multisystem proteinopathy

“…Apart from the above-mentioned studies, based on our understanding of VCP-MSP, antioxidant, antiinflammatory agents, such as dietary natural stilbenes polyphenol, Resveratrol (RV), can be a potential intervention in VCP-MSP. Resveratrol decreases apoptosis, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and helps improve lifespan with its antioxidant capabilities, and it has been safely used in several clinical trials [60][61][62]. Given the underlying mitochondrial pathology in VCP-MSP, including hindered ATP production, mitochondrial modifiers can be theoretically beneficial [63].…”

Exploring the effects of resveratrol supplementation on cerebrovascular function in hormonal migraineurs: A pilot study

“…Additionally, as a phytoestrogen, resveratrol also acts on estrogen receptors to increase nitric oxide production ( Kuršvietienė et al, 2016 , Xia et al, 2014 ). Resveratrol’s beneficial effects on cerebrovascular function have been demonstrated in a number of studies ( Kennedy et al, 2010 , Dzator et al, 2022 , Thaung Zaw et al, 2021 , Wong et al, 2016 , Evans et al, 2017 ). In an acute dose-response trial, Wong et al reported that a single dose of 75 mg resveratrol was optimal to enhance cerebrovascular function, compared to placebo ( Wong et al, 2016 ).…”