linoleic-acid and Migraine-Disorders

Migraine is a prevalent neurological disorder, affecting over 16% of adult women and 7% of adult men in the U.S., causing significant pain, disability, and medical expense, with incomplete benefits from conventional medical management. Migraine, as a chronic pain syndrome, provides a practical model for investigating the impact of dietary modifications in omega-3 (n-3) and omega-6 (n-6) fatty acids. This paper reports the protocol of a trial to assess whether targeted dietary modifications designed to increase n-3 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), with or without concurrent reduction in n-6 linoleic acid (LA), will alter nociceptive lipid mediators and mediate decreases in frequency and severity of migraine. This prospective, randomized, controlled trial in 153 male and female adult subjects, ages 18-99, with diagnosed and actively managed episodic migraine tests the efficacy, safety, and biochemical effects of targeted, controlled alterations in dietary omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Participants are masked to diet hypotheses and all assessors are masked to treatment assignment. Following a four-week baseline period, participants with migraine headache frequency of 5-20 per month are randomized to one of three intensive dietary regimens for 16 additional weeks followed by a less intensive observation period. Dietary intervention arms include: 1) increased n-3 EPA+DHA with low n-6 linoleic acid (H3 L6); 2) increased n-3 EPA+DHA with usual US dietary intake of n-6 linoleic acid (H3 H6); and 3) usual US dietary content of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids (L3 H6). During the actual intervention, subjects receive content-specific study oils and foods sufficient for two meals and two snacks per day, as well as dietary counseling. Biochemical and clinical outcome measures are performed at intervals throughout this period. This randomized controlled trial is designed to determine whether targeted alterations in dietary n-3 and n-6 fatty acids can alter nociceptive lipid mediators in a manner that decreases headache pain and enhances quality of life and function in adults with frequent migraines.. NCT02012790.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Female; Humans; Linoleic Acid; Male; Middle Aged; Migraine Disorders; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

The topical application of linoleic and linolenic acids is a potential prophylactic approach to migraine via an anti-inflammatory mechanism. We present a 45-year-old woman with chronic migraine without aura. Previous use of abortive or prophylactic therapies including sumatriptan, amitriptyline and topiramate had failed due to lack of efficacy or side-effects, especially vomiting. In search of a topical agent she performed an n-of-1 trial comparing application of linoleic acid (safflower oil) versus oleic acid (olive oil) for migraine relief. She found safflower oil to be effective. Topically applied safflower oil rich in linoleic and linolenic acids may offer a safe, easily applied, well-tolerated, effective anti-inflammatory approach for the prophylactic treatment of chronic migraine.

Topics: Animals; Female; Humans; Linoleic Acid; Linolenic Acids; Male; Middle Aged; Migraine Disorders; Olive Oil; Safflower Oil

There is evidence that patients with migraine have deficient levels of the endogenous cannabinoid receptor ligand anandamide (AEA). It is not known, however, if this is a localised or generalised phenomenon. In the present study, levels of AEA, related N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) and linoleic acid-derived oxylipins have been measured in the blood of 26 healthy women and 38 women with migraine (26 with aura, 12 without aura) who were matched for age and body-mass index. Blood samples were taken on two occasions: the first sample near the start of the menstrual cycle (when present) and the second approximately fourteen days later. For a subset of migraine patients, two additional blood samples were taken, one during a migraine attack and one approximately 1 month later (to be at the same stage in the menstrual cycle, when present). NAEs and oxylipins were measured by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Twenty-nine lipids were quantified, of which 16 were found to have a high reproducibility of measurement. There were no significant differences in the levels of AEA, the related NAEs stearoylethanolamide and oleoylethanolamide or any of the nine linoleic acid-derived oxylipins measured either between migraine patients with vs. without aura, or between controls and migraine patients (after stratification to take into account whether or not the individuals had regular menstruation cycles) in either of the first two samples. Levels of linoleoylethanolamide were lower in the patients with vs. without aura on the second sample but not in the first sample, but the biological importance of this finding is unclear. Due to time-dependent increases in their concentrations ex vivo prior to centrifugation, AEA and oleoylethanolamide levels in the samples collected during migraine attacks were not analysed, but for the other fourteen lipids, there were no significant differences in plasma concentrations during migraine vs. one month later. It is concluded that migraine is not associated with a generalised (as opposed to localised) deficiency in these lipids.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Arachidonic Acids; Endocannabinoids; Ethanolamines; Female; Humans; Linoleic Acid; Middle Aged; Migraine Disorders; Oxylipins; Polyunsaturated Alkamides; Young Adult

The authors have studied platelet aggregability in the presence of ADP and collagen in a population of 40 migrainous children between migraine attacks. They completed their investigations by a qualitative dosage in platelets and in plasma of fatty acids, precursors of prostaglandins, which are well known for their importance in platelet aggregation and vasculomotor reactions. This study was made in comparison with an equal number of controls chosen from the same age-groups. The authors didn't find the hyperaggregability observed by other authors in grown-up populations. They noticed a light-but statistically significant-diminution of linoleic acid in the platelets and in the plasma. A study based on observations does not entirely confirm for certain an alimentary origin.

Topics: Adolescent; Blood Platelets; Child; Fatty Acids; Female; Humans; Linoleic Acid; Linoleic Acids; Male; Migraine Disorders; Platelet Aggregation; Prostaglandins