For those who suffer from migraine headaches, a change in diet may help to reduce their frequency.
One group received meals that included high levels of fatty fish or fish oil and lowered linoleic acid. Linoleic acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid common in corn, soybean, and other highly processed oils.
Another group was given meals with high levels of fatty fish and higher linoleic acid, while the third group received meals with high linoleic acid and lower levels of fatty fish, which mimicked the average North American diet.
During the 16-week study, participants were required to monitor their number of migraine headaches in terms of days, duration, and intensity. They also listed how their headaches affected their ability to function at work, at school, and in their social lives, as well as how often they needed to take medication.
At the beginning of the study, participants averaged more than 16 headache days per month, more than five hours of migraine pain per day, and had baseline scores that reflected a severe impact on their quality of life, despite using headache medications.
It was found that a diet lower in vegetable oil and higher in fatty fish was linked to a 30 percent to 40 percent reduction in total headache hours per day, severe headache hours per day, and overall headache hours per month, compared to the control group.
Mounting Evidence on Linoleic Acid
This study adds to the research team’s previous work on the impact of linoleic acid and chronic pain. Researchers had previously explored whether linoleic acid inflamed migraine-related pain processing tissues and pathways in the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for sensation in the face and motor functions like chewing. They concluded that a diet lower in linoleic acid with higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids could help soothe this pain pathway inflammation.Linoleic acid is common in the standard North American diet because of the prevalence of oils used in processed foods. With high levels of it being consumed every day, researchers are trying to connect some health concerns to consuming fatty acid.
The study’s author concluded by saying: “Changes in diet could offer some relief for the millions of North Americans who suffer from migraine pain. It’s further evidence that the foods we eat can influence pain pathways.”