Macronutrient Intake in Relation to Migraine and Non-Migraine Headaches

Abstract

We investigated the association of mean daily macronutrient intake with migraine and non-migraine headaches. This cross-sectional study included 8042 men and 23,728 women from the ongoing population-based NutriNet-Santé e-cohort. Headache status was assessed via an online self-report questionnaire (2013–2016). Migraine was defined using established criteria and dietary macronutrient intake was estimated via ≥3 24 h dietary records. Mean daily intake (g/day) of carbohydrates (simple, complex, and total), protein, and fat (saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and total) were the main exposure variables. Adjusted gender-specific analysis of variance (ANOVA) models were fit. Presence of migraines was noted in 9.2% of men (mean age = 54.3 ± 13.3 years) and 25.7% of women (mean age = 49.6 ± 12.8 years). In adjusted models, we observed (1) somewhat lower protein (p < 0.02) and higher total fat (p < 0.01) intake among male migraineurs compared with males without headaches and those with non-migraine headaches; (2) somewhat higher total fat (p < 0.0001) and total carbohydrate intake (p < 0.05) among female migraineurs compared with females without headaches and those with non-migraine headaches. The findings, which provide preliminary support for modest gender-specific differences in macronutrient intake by migraine status, merit confirmation in different population-based settings, as well as longitudinally, and could help to inform future dietary interventions in headache prevention.

Is an “Epigenetic Diet” for Migraines Justified? The Case of Folate and DNA Methylation

“…In a large (8042 men and 23,728 women) cross-sectional study on subjects from a population-based NutriNet-Santé e-cohort, Andreeva et al observed migraine occurrence in 9.2% of men and 25% of women [71]. They also observed lower protein and higher fat consumption in male migraineurs than in males without headaches and those with non-migraine headaches and higher fat and carbohydrate intake in female migraineurs than females without headaches and those with non-migraine headaches.…”

Migraine and Diet

“…We still do not know whether being a responder or not in response to dietary interventions is due to identifiable microbial profiles. In addition, one needs to consider that the relationship between diet and migraine is not unidirectional, and research needs not only to investigate the influence of diet on migraine, but also the physiological mechanisms of migraine that can potentially influence the choice of diet [ 88 , 89 , 90 ]. Migraine most likely influences food choices, and even though some evidence has pointed to a correlation between obesity and migraine [ 91 ], this area is in need of further investigation.…”

What is Needed for Evidence‐Based Dietary Recommendations for Migraine: A Call to Action for Nutrition and Microbiome Research

“…The limited epidemiological data documenting dietary intake in free-living people with migraine differs from their peers across several nutritional metrics, including nutritional quality, 133 macronutrient composition of the diet, 134 regularity of eating schedule, 135 and consumption levels of a variety of individual foods. More recently, several lines of evidence are converging to imply that the physiological mechanisms of migraine may influence diet.…”

“…More recently, several lines of evidence are converging to imply that the physiological mechanisms of migraine may influence diet. The limited epidemiological data documenting dietary intake in free-living people with migraine differs from their peers across several nutritional metrics, including nutritional quality, 133 macronutrient composition of the diet, 134 regularity of eating schedule, 135 and consumption levels of a variety of individual foods. [136][137][138] Second, activation of the hypothalamus, the brain's hunger and feeding center, is observed during the premonitory phase of migraine and coincides with the timing of food cravings.…”