From SPIEGEL No. 28 July 10, 2021: Interview with Prof. Dr. Hartmut Göbel on the topic of omega-3 fatty acids and migraines

“SPIEGEL: How important is the right diet for migraines?

Göbel: In any case, this is a big issue for many patients. There are even cookbooks with recipes for migraines. But unfortunately many of the recommendations are on thin ice. There is little scientific evidence on this.

SPIEGEL: A study has now appeared in the "British Medical Journal" according to which a diet with a high proportion of omega-3 fatty acids - such as those found in salmon, mackerel, linseed oil, linseed and walnuts - reduces the number of migraine attacks can be reduced by an average of four days per month. What to make of this?

Göbel: We have to wait and see whether this result is actually confirmed. Even the newest migraine medications only manage about 3.5 fewer headache days per month. Like almost all nutrition studies, this work has clear limitations. For example, it was not "blinded" - the fact that participants and researchers knew who was getting which diet could have influenced the result. The number of participants was also not particularly large. And the impairment of the subjects caused by their headaches did not decrease. Nevertheless, the study clearly indicates that there seems to be something in the positive effect of omega-3 fatty acids - supplied through normal foods, mind you, not as dietary supplements that you buy in the drugstore or pharmacy.

SPIEGEL: How can the positive effect be explained? 

Göbel: Omega-3 fatty acids have an anti-inflammatory effect; they are used in the body to produce messenger substances that suppress pain. This could also affect migraines.

SPIEGEL: Will you now offer more food with lots of omega-3 fatty acids in your clinic?

Göbel: We've been doing this for a long time, simply because it's healthy. For me, that's the good thing about this study result: If you eat more unsaturated fatty acids, such as those found in salmon, flax seeds and nuts, you can't go wrong - unlike some other diet recommendations - it definitely promotes your health.

SPIEGEL: Are there any more nutritional tips for migraine sufferers?

Göbel: Oh yes. In the past, it was all about what you shouldn't eat - chocolate, cheese and citrus fruits, for example. These foods could trigger headache attacks, it was said. Some patients have developed real fears. We now know that none of this is scientifically tenable.

SPIEGEL: Isn't it true that many migraine sufferers crave chocolate the day before a headache attack? 

Göbel: Yes, but that is not the cause of the migraine attack. It is a sign that the fuse to the headache is already smoldering, a desperate attempt by the body to pull the ripcord and avert the attack after all.

SPIEGEL: How is that supposed to work?

Göbel: Migraines are essentially caused by innate risk genes. This means that the brain of migraine sufferers often works very quickly and is constantly active. The brain needs energy for this, which the nerve cells get from carbohydrates. We now assume that a migraine attack is also caused by a lack of energy in the brain. So it is very important for migraine sufferers to eat regularly and consume complex carbohydrates. It may sound surprising, but I recommend complex carbohydrates such as potatoes, rice and whole grain products for breakfast. Nuts and flaxseeds are a good addition.”

Literature:

  1. Dietary omega 3 fatty acids for migraine
  2. Dietary alteration of n-3 and n-6 ​​fatty acids for headache reduction in adults with migraine: randomized controlled trial