Dietary Folate Intake Related to Migraine Frequency
Lower dietary folate intake correlates with increased migraine frequency, found a study published in February 2015. According to the Migraine Research Foundation, approximately 18% of women and 6% of men have migraines. In addition, migraines tend to run in families. If one parent suffers from migraines, there is a 40% chance a child will suffer, and if both parents have migraines, the chance rises to 90%.
The researchers evaluated 141 women with migraines with aura and who had a gene variant for the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) enzyme known as the C677T variant, which has been associated with increased levels of homocysteine and risk of migraine with aura. The MTHFR enzyme plays a key role in folate metabolism. The investigators collected data including folic acid intake, and migraine frequency, severity, and disability.
Migraine frequency decreased as intake of dietary folate equivalent and folic acid intake increased. Among the individuals with the CC genotype (two of the same allele) for the MTHFR C677T variant, migraine frequency was significantly linked to folic acid consumption.
The study authors concluded, “The results from this study indicate that folate intake in the form of folic acid may influence migraine frequency in female migraine with aura sufferers.”
Reference:
Menon S, et al. Headache. 2015 Feb;55(2):301-9.
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