Journal Article

Dietary Patterns and Migraine: Insights and Impact

Tsai, I-Ju, Tu, Yi-Hsien, Yang, Cheng-Chia, Chang, Ching-Mao, Yang, Chun-Pai, Chou, Ying-Chen

2025

Overview

Migraine is a prevalent neurological disorder characterized by significant disability and triggered by various factors, including dietary habits. This review explores the complex relationship between diet and migraine, highlighting both triggering and protective roles of dietary patterns and specific nutrients. Evidence suggests that certain foods, such as alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, MSG, nitrates, and tyramine, can trigger migraines in susceptible individuals. Conversely, dietary interventions, including carbohydrate-restricted diets, ketogenic diets, vitamin D3 supplementation, omega-3 fatty acids, Mediterranean dietary patterns, and increased water intake, have shown potential in reducing migraine frequency and severity. Observational studies also indicate that maintaining a healthy diet, rich in fruits and vegetables and low in processed foods, is associated with better migraine outcomes. The effectiveness of these interventions varies among individuals, underscoring the importance of personalized approaches. Future studies should further explore the role of diet in migraine management, focusing on randomized trials to establish causality and refine dietary recommendations for patients.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,MDPI
• Subject: Alcohol / Alcoholic beverages / Body mass index / Caffeine / Cross-sectional studies / Diet / Diet - adverse effects / Diet, Ketogenic / Diet, Mediterranean / Dietary Supplements / Feeding Behavior / Females / Food / Fruit / Headaches / Humans / Migraine / Migraine Disorders - diet therapy / Migraine Disorders - etiology / Migraine Disorders - prevention & control / Nervous system diseases / Nitrates / Nutrition / Omega-3 fatty acids / Questionnaires / Requirements / Review