Diet-Based Treatment for Migraine Relief
American University
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a low-glutamate diet can improve migraine symptoms in adults with migraine and to explore possible biological changes associated with dietary improvement. The study focuses on whether reducing dietary glutamate intake may influence processes involved in migraine, such as brain excitation, inflammation, and oxidative stress. The main questions this study aims to answer are: Does following a low-glutamate diet reduce the number of migraine days and the severity and duration of migraine attacks, and improve quality of life? Are improvements in migraine symptoms associated with changes in blood-based biological markers related to migraine activity? Researchers will compare participants assigned to the low-glutamate diet with participants assigned to a wait-list control group to evaluate differences in migraine outcomes and related biological measures. Participants will: Complete a baseline run-in period while tracking headaches using a daily migraine diary Either follow a low-glutamate dietary intervention or continue their usual diet as part of a wait-list control Complete standardized questionnaires related to migraine symptoms and quality of life Provide blood samples for laboratory analyses Undergo neuroimaging assessments (for a subset of participants)
Description
The purpose of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a low-glutamate diet is an effective treatment for migraine and to explore how this dietary approach may influence biological processes related to migraine. The low-glutamate diet reduces intake of free glutamate commonly found in ultra-processed foods and food additives, while emphasizing whole foods rich in nutrients that support brain health and reduce oxidative stress. The study is based on prior research showing that this diet led to substantial improvements in migraine symptoms among individuals with chronic pain, with migraine r…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–75 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Men and women of all races and ethnicities * Age 18-75 years * Documented diagnosis of chronic or episodic migraine for at least 6 months, based on International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD-III) criteria, defined as: * 8 headache days per month, and * 4 migraine days per month * Migraine onset before age 50 * On a stable medication regimen for at least 1 month prior to enrollment * Willing to maintain stable medications throughout the study * Willing to discontinue supplements during the study period * Women of childbearing potential must…
Interventions
- BehavioralDietary training
Subjects will undergo a 2-hour online training session to teach them how to follow the low glutamate diet. The low glutamate diet is a healthy, whole-food diet designed to limit the intake of free glutamate/aspartate, while also emphasizing the consumption of foods which are high in nutrients that protect against glutamate excitotoxicity and oxidative stress.
Location
- American UniversityWashington D.C., District of Columbia