Long-Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Headache in the U.S. Population

In conclusion, higher dietary intakes of EPA and DHA were associated with lower prevalence of headache supporting the hypothesis that omega-3 PUFAs may prevent or reduce headache.SummarySevere headache and migraine are common neurological disorders, costly to treat and not adequately managed by pharmaceutical therapy. Experimental studies conducted with animals and humans suggest that dietary intakes high in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids alleviate pain in headache. It is not known whether this effect is found in the general population, in the absence of an intervention. We analyzed NHANES nutrition data over a six-year period during which severe headache and migraine was assessed in a representative sample of the U.S. adult population. We found inverse dose-dependent associations between EPA and DHA and prevalence of severe migraine or headache that persisted when adjusted for potential confounders including body mass index, and total energy intake. C-reactive protein did not attenuate the strength of association, suggesting that marker of low-grade systemic inflammation did not play a role on the causal pathway.
Source: Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids (PLEFA) - Category: Lipidology Source Type: research