Associations between adherence to dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet and migraine headache severity and duration among women

Abstract

Purpose/introduction: Migraine is a common disorder, with attacks causing neurological dysfunction and pain. Many foods are involved in reducing the severity of migraine attacks. This study aimed to assess the effects that adhering to the Dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet had on headache severity and duration among women suffering from migraine.

Methods and materials: Two hundred and sixty-six women (18–45 years) were enrolled after being referred to a headache clinic for the first time. Dietary intake was assessed daily using a Food Frequency Questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were assessed for all cases, as well as headache duration of each attack; Visual Analog Scale and Migraine Disability Assessment questionnaires were evaluated by a neurologist.

Results: The mean age, weight, and height of the study participants were 34.32 (SD 7.86) years, 69.41 (13.02) kg, and 161 (0.05) cm, respectively. The results of analysis in the crude model showed that individuals with the greatest adherence to the DASH diet displayed a 30% lower prevalence in severe headaches, compared to those with the lowest adherence (OR=0.70, 95%CI=0.49–0.99, P<0.05). Also, after controlling for potential confounders, subjects in the highest quartile of DASH diet adherence were 46% less likely to have severe headaches, and also saw a 36% lower occurrence of moderate headaches, compared to those in the bottom quartile (OR=0.54, 95%CI=0.35–0.83, P<0.005 and OR=0.64, 95%CI=0.44–0.95, P<0.005, respectively). These results showed a significant positive correlation between adherence to DASH diets and lower rates of mean headache duration for each attack in the last month (β=−1.49, CI=0.21–2.7, P=0.02).

Conclusion: This study showed that the DASH diet is associated with lower headache severity and duration in migraine patients.

Keywords:

• Dietary approaches to stop hypertension
• Migraine headache
• Visual Analog Scale
• Migraine Disability Assessment Questionnaire

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the study participants for their cooperation and assistance in physical examinations. They also thank those involved in nutritional evaluation and database management, as well as the neurology clinics of Sina and Khatam Alanbia hospitals.

Disclaimer statements

Contributors None.

Funding This study was supported by the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, and by grants from Tehran University of Medical Sciences (Grants ID: 95-01-103-31348).

Conflicts of interest The authors report no conflict of interest.

Ethics approval None.