ABSTRACT
Objectives/background
This study was conducted to describe the dietary patterns and diet quality and to examine the correlation between diet quality, dietary patterns (Mediterranean or DASH) and migraine attributes.
Methods
Individuals between the ages of 18–64 who applied to the headache outpatient clinic and were diagnosed with episodic migraine were evaluated by a neurologist. Healthy Eating Index-2010 was used to determine the diet quality. Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension compliance scale and Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener were used to describe the dietary patterns.
Results
It was found that individuals with a low Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener score had more severe disability and more severe and frequent attacks (p < 0.05). In addition, a significant negative correlation was found between Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener score and attack severity (r = −0.733, p < 0.05). Individuals with a low Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension compliance scale score had more severe and frequent attacks (p < 0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between attack severity and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension compliance scale scores (r = −0.700, p < 0.001). Individuals with poor diet quality had more severe migraine attacks compared to others (p < 0.05). A significant negative correlation was found between diet quality total score and attack severity (r = 0.458, p < 0.05). High diet quality scores and higher vegetables, fruits, legumes, and oil seeds subscores, DASH and Mediterranean dietary patterns were associated with lower migraine attack severity (p < 0.05).
Conclusion
A nutritional approach that adopts the Mediterranean diet or involves a good diet quality pattern can help alleviate the symptoms of individuals with migraine.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Data availability statement
The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author, B.H. The data are not publicly available due to [restrictions e.g. their containing information that could compromise the privacy of research participants].
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Hande Bakırhan
Hande Bakırhan is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey. Her research interest is to carry out various studies in the field of nutrition and dietetics and investigate the association between diet and diseases.
Hilal Yıldıran
Hilal Yıldıran is a Professor at the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey. Her research interest is to carry out various studies in the field of nutrition and dietetics and investigate the association between diet and diseases.
Tugba Uyar Cankay
Tugba Uyar Cankay is a associated medical doctor at the Department of Acute Stroke Center, Medeniyet University, Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul. Her research interest is to carry out various studies in the field of stroke, neuronutrition and headache.