Is migraine food allergy? A double-blind controlled trial of oligoantigenic diet treatment

Lancet. 1983 Oct 15;2(8355):865-9. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(83)90866-8.

Abstract

93% of 88 children with severe frequent migraine recovered on oligoantigenic diets; the causative foods were identified by sequential reintroduction, and the role of the foods provoking migraine was established by a double-blind controlled trial in 40 of the children. Most patients responded to several foods. Many foods were involved, suggesting an allergic rather than an idiosyncratic (metabolic) pathogenesis. Associated symptoms which improved in addition to headache included abdominal pain, behaviour disorder, fits, asthma, and eczema. In most of the patients in whom migraine was provoked by non-specific factors, such as blows to the head, exercise, and flashing lights, this provocation no longer occurred while they were on the diet.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abdomen
  • Adolescent
  • Antigens / immunology
  • Asthma / etiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Eczema / etiology
  • Female
  • Food Hypersensitivity / complications*
  • Food Hypersensitivity / immunology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methods*
  • Migraine Disorders / diet therapy*
  • Migraine Disorders / etiology
  • Migraine Disorders / psychology
  • Pain / etiology
  • Science*

Substances

  • Antigens