Highlights
Abstract
Introduction: Migraine is a common type of headache, but its
pathogenesis is still not fully understood. Triggering factors may vary in
migraine patients with a particular importance of certain food intake. In
this study, the efficacy of limiting certain migraine- triggering foods in
the prevention of migraine attacks was investigated.
Methods: Patients diagnosed with migraine without aura according
to the International Classification of Headaches were enrolled. Fifty
migraine patients stating that migraine attack started after the intake of
certain foods were evaluated. The patients were randomly divided into
2 groups. The migraine-triggering foods identified by the patients were
excluded from the diet in both groups 1 (n=25) and 2 (n=25). Monthly
attack frequency, attack duration, and attack severity (using the visual
analogue scale) were recorded before starting the diet restriction and 2
months after the diet restriction. Diet restriction was relaxed in group 1
after the second month and continued in group 2. In the fourth month,
the monthly attack frequency, attack duration, and attack severity (using
the visual analogue scale) were determined in both groups.
Results: A total of 50 patients comprising 9 males and 41 females were
evaluated in this study. In both the groups, in the second month after diet
implementation, monthly attack frequency, attack duration, and attack
severity were found to have decreased to a statistically significant extent
compared to those in the period before diet implementation [group
1 (p=0.011, p=0.041, and p=0.003, respectively) and group 2 (p=0.015,
p=0.037, and p=0.003, respectively)]. In the evaluation in the fourth month, it
was observed that this significant decrease was maintained only in group 2.
Conclusion: The results of the study reveal that if migraine-triggering
foods are identified by migraine patients, restricting their intake can be
an effective and reliable method to reduce migraine attacks.