Gut Health and Migraines
Gut-Brain Axis and Migraines
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First published: 30. Jan.2025
Overview
There is growing evidence that shows a link between an altered gut microbiome (dysbiosis) and migraine.
Lack of bacterial diversity in the intestines and overgrowth of some species leads to "leaky gut", inflammation, immune responses, and reduced synthesis of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) which affect the brain and promote migraine.
In this article, we explore the mechanisms by which the gut and brain interact, the effect that the gut-brain axis has on migraine, and the potential therapies that could relieve migraine by modulating the microbes in the gut.
References and Further Reading
(1) Crawford J, Liu S, Tao F. , (2020). Gut microbiota and migraine. Neurobiol Pain. 2022 Apr 9;11:100090. doi: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2022.100090. PMID: 35464185; PMCID: PMC9018445
(2) He Q, Wang W, Xiong Y, Tao C, Ma L, Ma J, You C, (2023). International Headache Genetics Consortium. A causal effects of gut microbiota in the development of migraine. J Headache Pain. 2023 Jul 17;24(1):90. doi: 10.1186/s10194-023-01609-x. PMID: 37460956; PMCID: PMC10353251
(3) Yong, D., Lee, H., Min, HG. et al., (2023). Altered gut microbiota in individuals with episodic and chronic migraine. Sci Rep 13, 626 (2023).
(4) Arzani, M., Jahromi, S.R., Ghorbani, Z. et al., (2020). Gut-brain Axis and migraine headache: a comprehensive review. J Headache Pain 21, 15 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-020-1078-9
(5) Kopchak O, Hrytsenko O., (2022). Feature of gut microbiota in patients with migraine and healthy individuals. Georgian Medical News. 2022 Jun(327):13-17. PMID: 35959927
(6) Valente M, Garbo R, Filippi F, Antonutti A, Ceccarini V, Tereshko Y, Di Lorenzo C, Gigli GL., (2022). Migraine Prevention through Ketogenic Diet: More than Body Mass Composition Changes. J Clin Med. 2022 Aug 23;11(17):4946. doi: 10.3390/jcm11174946. PMID: 36078876; PMCID: PMC9456603
(7) Hajjarzadeh S, Bakhshimoghaddam F, Behrouz M, Nikniaz Z, Mahdavi R, Shalilahmadi D, Karandish M., (2024). The relation of adherence to the DASH diet with migraine attack frequency and pain intensity in Iranian women: a cross-sectional study. Nutr Neurosci. 2024 Apr;27(4):353-360. doi: 10.1080/1028415X.2023.2193766. Epub 2023 Mar 28. PMID: 36976732
(8) Hatami M, Soveid N, Lesani A, Djafarian K, Shab-Bidar S. , (2021). Migraine and Obesity: Is There a Relationship? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2021;20(9):863-870. doi: 10.2174/1871527320666210713114840. PMID: 34259152
About this Article
Gut Health and Migraines, A. Whittall
©2025 Fit-and-Well.com. First Published: 30.Jan.2025. Update scheduled for 30.Jan.2028. https://www.fit-and-well.com/fitness/gut-health-and-migraines.html
Tags: gut, migraine, microbiome, microflora, omega-3, probiotics, vitamin D, weight loss, IBS, IBD, celiac disease, diet, ketogenic diet, brain, carbohydrates, gastrointestinal health