That result is especially notable because it matches or even exceeds the results of recent attempts to find a pharmacological remedy for migraines, like monoclonal antibody treatments.
“This study provides a biologically plausible demonstration that pain can be treated through targeted dietary alterations in humans,” the study’s authors wrote in their paper, which was published in the U.K. medical journalBMJin July.
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Migrainesare one of the most common medical conditions in the world, affecting about one billion people; yet, are still not fully understood. Much worse than regular headaches, they can cause blinding pain, temporary changes to the nervous system, exhaustion and more. They can effectively make a serious sufferer unable to do anything productive for up to three days, in some cases. Certain medications, including pain relievers, can actually aggravate migraine symptoms, which is why doctors are so interested in a treatment that doesn’t rely on pharmaceuticals.
The UNC study followed 182 adults, 166 of whom were women, with an average age of 38. The subjects reported that they usually had between five and 20 migraines a month. They were split into three groups: a control group, a group that ate more omega-3s than before over four months and a group that ate more omega-3s and fewer omega-6s than before over four months. (Omega-6sare another type of fatty acid that can be found in corn, soybeans, nuts and seeds, meats, poultry, fish and eggs—but most of us get them via the lineolic acids in vegetable oils.) The participants recorded how many migraines they got and how severe they were.
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Besides finding that omega-3s reduced the frequency of migraines, researchers noted that they also seemed to make them milder. Those results, however, doubled for the third group, which consumed more omega-3s and fewer omega-6s—those subjects reported having an average of four fewer migraines a month.
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Experts said the UNC study’s findings could pave the way for an effective treatment for migraine sufferers—though there’s still work to do.
More research is needed to clarify the role of omega-3s in migraine prevention and relief, but this is encouraging news for those experiencing migraines regularly. Plus, there are plenty of other reasons to boost youromega-3 intake, including improved blood pressure, healthier hair and healthier joints. Want to up your omega-3 intake? We have plenty ofdelicious recipesto help you meet your daily quota.
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