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Date of Award
Spring 2021
Degree Name
Master of Medical Science (Physician Assistant)
Department
Physician Assistant; College of Health Sciences
First Advisor
Lisa Murphy
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: Migraines can be a chronic condition for many individuals and are described as severe unilateral headaches that may include additional symptoms. Onset prevention most often includes medication and avoiding food triggers. For those who heavily rely on the medications long term, the side effects of those medications can also impact their quality of life. Currently, vegan diets are becoming increasingly popular and accessible, and due to the fact that avoiding trigger foods is a harmless yet challenging way to prevent the onset of migraines, it might be easier to follow a specific diet plan. This paper will focus on the efficacy of how a vegan diet can prevent and reduce the frequency and severity of migraines.
Methods: A literature search was conducted on PubMed in November 2019. Articles that were included in the search criteria were based on key terms, study design, and outcome measurements.
Results: Promising results were seen with a change in diet and the elimination of low-quality foods in relation to the frequency of migraines among individuals. One study found a significant decrease in migraine frequency with the avoidance of food triggers, some of which included non-vegan items. Additionally, cross-sectional studies found that those without migraines consumed less meat and dairy products. One prospective study focused on high quality food and a healthy caloric intake which also provided a statistically significant outcome. The strongest studies were RCT in which a complete diet change was implemented, and participants had a reduction in migraine frequency and reduction in prophylactic medication use.
Discussion: Improvement in diet was associated with a statistically significant decrease in migraine frequency and severity among 5 out of the 7 studies. Limitations were seen due to the lack of RCT and prospective studies that focused primarily on vegan diets and their association to migraines. Many studies did however provide insight into the way diet can play a role in migraine frequency. Additionally, not all the studies described whether or not participants were taking prophylactic medications but 4 out of the 7 studies did show a significant decrease in prophylactic medication use after changing diets.
Conclusion: The etiology of migraines is complicated and figuring out prevention methods can be a very involved task. Many other holistic variables play a role in decreasing migraine onset but this paper focused on the effects of diet. Incorporating a vegan diet is shown to provide a statistically significant reduction in migraine frequency and reduction in medication use overall. Future studies should further investigate the long-term effects of adopting a vegan diet to see if it is a solution to preventing migraines altogether rather than just reducing the frequency.
Recommended Citation
Patel, Disha, "How a Vegan Diet Compares to Traditional Prophylactic Analgesic Medications for Migraine Prevention" (2021). Capstone Showcase. 95.
https://scholarworks.arcadia.edu/showcase/2021/pa/95
How a Vegan Diet Compares to Traditional Prophylactic Analgesic Medications for Migraine Prevention
Abstract
Introduction: Migraines can be a chronic condition for many individuals and are described as severe unilateral headaches that may include additional symptoms. Onset prevention most often includes medication and avoiding food triggers. For those who heavily rely on the medications long term, the side effects of those medications can also impact their quality of life. Currently, vegan diets are becoming increasingly popular and accessible, and due to the fact that avoiding trigger foods is a harmless yet challenging way to prevent the onset of migraines, it might be easier to follow a specific diet plan. This paper will focus on the efficacy of how a vegan diet can prevent and reduce the frequency and severity of migraines.
Methods: A literature search was conducted on PubMed in November 2019. Articles that were included in the search criteria were based on key terms, study design, and outcome measurements.
Results: Promising results were seen with a change in diet and the elimination of low-quality foods in relation to the frequency of migraines among individuals. One study found a significant decrease in migraine frequency with the avoidance of food triggers, some of which included non-vegan items. Additionally, cross-sectional studies found that those without migraines consumed less meat and dairy products. One prospective study focused on high quality food and a healthy caloric intake which also provided a statistically significant outcome. The strongest studies were RCT in which a complete diet change was implemented, and participants had a reduction in migraine frequency and reduction in prophylactic medication use.
Discussion: Improvement in diet was associated with a statistically significant decrease in migraine frequency and severity among 5 out of the 7 studies. Limitations were seen due to the lack of RCT and prospective studies that focused primarily on vegan diets and their association to migraines. Many studies did however provide insight into the way diet can play a role in migraine frequency. Additionally, not all the studies described whether or not participants were taking prophylactic medications but 4 out of the 7 studies did show a significant decrease in prophylactic medication use after changing diets.
Conclusion: The etiology of migraines is complicated and figuring out prevention methods can be a very involved task. Many other holistic variables play a role in decreasing migraine onset but this paper focused on the effects of diet. Incorporating a vegan diet is shown to provide a statistically significant reduction in migraine frequency and reduction in medication use overall. Future studies should further investigate the long-term effects of adopting a vegan diet to see if it is a solution to preventing migraines altogether rather than just reducing the frequency.