The association between carbohydrate quality index and headache severity, disability and duration among women with migraine: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT

Background & Aim:

This study aimed to examine the association between Carbohydrate Quality Index (CQI) and headache severity, disability and duration among women with migraine.

Materials & Methods:

In this cross-sectional study, 266 women (aged 18–45 years) were enrolled using a 147-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). CQI was defined by four criteria: fiber intake, dietary glycemic index (DGI), whole grains/total grains ratio and solid carbohydrates/total carbohydrates ratio. Anthropometric measurements, visual analogue scale (VAS), migraine disability assessment (MIDAS), and headache duration were assessed for all participants.

Results:

Participants with a high adherence to CQI had lower odds of moderate pain (OR = 0.45; 95% CI = 0.21-0.94; P = 0.03) and severe pain (OR = 0.39; 95% CI = 0.18-0.82; P = 0.01) compared to those with a low adherence to CQI. After controlling for potential confounders, individuals with the greatest adherence to CQI showed a 78% reduced prevalence in severe pains and a 63% decreased occurrence in moderate pains compared to those with the lowest adherence (OR = 0.22; 95% CI = 0.09-0.55; P = 0.01 and OR = 0.37; 95% CI = 0.16-0.84; P = 0.01, respectively). Moreover, Subjects with higher adherence to CQI had lower odds of headache duration (OR = 0.54; 95% CI= 0.31-0.96; P = 0.03). The significant association remained (P < 0.05) even after confounding variables (OR = 0.59; 95 % CI = 0.35-1.002; P = 0.05). Despite adjusting for confounding valuables, there was no significant association between the CQI and MIDAS scores (P > 0.05).

Conclusion:

Higher adherence to CQI was associated with lower severity and duration in patients with migraine. Further studies are needed to confirm these results.

KEYWORDS:

• Carbohydrate quality index
• fiber
• headache severity
• visual analogue scale

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to 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 Hospital.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data supporting the findings of this study are available from Dr Khadijeh Mirzaei, but restrictions are applied for the availability of these data, which were used under license for the current study, and so are not publicly available. However, data are, available from the authors upon reasonable request and with permission of Dr. Khadijeh Mirzaei.

Abbreviations

BMI: Body Mass Index

CQI: Carbohydrate Quality Index

CNS: Central Nervous System

CGRP: Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide

CVD: Cardiovascular Disease

DGI: Dietary Glycemic Index

DASH: Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension

HEI: Healthy Eating Index

FFQ: Food Frequency Questionnaire

GI: Glycemic Index

HC: Hip Circumference

Hcy: homocysteine

ICHD3: International Classification of Headache Disorders 3 criteria

LGD: Low Glycemic Diet

MIDAS: Migraine Disability Assessment

SCFAs: Small Chain Fatty acids

TNF-α: Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

VAS: Visual Analog Scale

WC: Waist Circumference

WHR: Waist to Hip Ratio

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Haniyeh Jebraeili

Haniyeh Jebraeili has a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition Health Sciences from Tehran University of Medical Sciences. She is passionate about researching various topics in nutrition science and is currently focusing on examining the relationship between different diets and various diseases. Her goal is to raise awareness and improve the level of nutritional information in her community through her articles. The scientific articles worked by the individual in question are available for review at the following link: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8441-9682

Atieh Mirzababaei

Atieh Mirzababaei, is a Ph.D. student in Nutrition at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. She have previously earned an MSPH in Nutrition from the same institution. Her research and professional experience have focused on the impact of nutrition on health, with a particular emphasis on obesity and migraine. Throughout her academic career, she have authored numerous articles, which have been published in leading academic journals. She invite you to view my profile through the provided links, which showcase her academic and professional articles. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Atieh-Mirzababaei, ATIEH MIRZABABAEI

Faezeh Abaj

Faezeh Abaj has completed a master's degree in Nutrition & Diet therapy at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, which is the top-ranked university in Iran. During her time at the university, she has acquired outstanding, and unique, research skills while working with one of the leading nutrition research teams. Her expertise includes conducting Nutrigenetics studies on obese women and diabetic patients. In March 2024, she commenced her PhD program at Monash University. Her PhD research involves performing clinical studies to examine the effects of polyphenols and high-fat meals on the genotype profile of participants. Google Scholar link: http://surl.li/sfwal. Email address: [email protected]

Khadijeh Mirzaei

Dr. Khadijeh Mirzaei is a faculty member at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. She is also an official member of the Harvard University Scientific Association and the Iranian Nutrition Scientific Association. Dr. Mirzaei has been bestowed with numerous accolades throughout her illustrious career, including the title of the best researcher of the Razi Medical Sciences Research Festival, and the rank of a young researcher in the Razi Medical Science Research Festival. Her contributions to the field of medical sciences are widely acclaimed and have been published in leading academic journals. As a prolific author, Dr. Mirzaei has authored multiple articles that have been widely recognized and cited by her peers in the academic community. Her unwavering commitment to excellence and her dedication to advancing the field of medical sciences serve as a testament to her expertise and professionalism. The individual's scientific articles are available for review at the following link: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=FGWTsEUAAAAJ&hl=en