A single-nutrient diet can reduce headaches

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Modern diets such as as a rule, they contain few omega-3 and many omega-6 fatty acids. These acids are precursors of oxylipins, molecules involved in the regulation of pain and inflammation. Recent studies have shown that eating a diet rich in omega-3s can reduce the frequency and severity of headaches.

Oxylipins from omega-3 fatty acids have pain-relieving effects, while oxylipins from omega-6 fatty acids can trigger a migraine and make it worse. “The results are based on data from 182 patients from the University of North Carolina in the United States who complained of migraines for 5-20 days per month,” the report said. to reduce the duration, frequency and intensity of headache. An additional benefit was shown by a simultaneous decrease in the amount of omega-6 in the diet.

Despite the high-quality preparation of the study, scientists noted some limitations in interpreting the results. These are the difficulty for patients to follow a strict diet and the fact that most of the participants were young women, so the data obtained may not apply to children, men, the elderly or other populations.