Food allergies and migraine

Lancet. 1979 May 5;1(8123):966-9. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(79)91735-5.

Abstract

60 migraine patients completed elimination diets after a 5-day period of withdrawal from their normal diet. 52 (87%) of these patients had been using oral contraceptive steroids, tobacco, and/or ergotamine for an average of 3 years, 22 years, and 7.4 years respectively. The commonest foods causing reactions were wheat (78%), orange (65%), eggs (45%), tea and coffee (40% each), chocolate and milk (37%) each), beef (35%), and corn, cane sugar, and yeast (33% each). When an average of ten common foods were avoided there was a dramatic fall in the number of headaches per month, 85% of patients becoming headache-free. The 25% of patients with hypertension became normotensive. Chemicals in the home environment can make this testing difficult for outpatients. Both immunological and non-immunological mechanisms may play a part in the pathogenesis of migraine caused by food intolerance.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Allergens / administration & dosage*
  • Animals
  • Cacao / adverse effects
  • Carbohydrates / adverse effects
  • Cattle
  • Coffee / adverse effects
  • Eggs / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Food Hypersensitivity / complications*
  • Fruit / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Meat / adverse effects
  • Middle Aged
  • Migraine Disorders / diet therapy
  • Migraine Disorders / etiology*
  • Milk / adverse effects
  • Tea / adverse effects
  • Triticum / adverse effects
  • Yeast, Dried / adverse effects
  • Zea mays / adverse effects

Substances

  • Allergens
  • Carbohydrates
  • Coffee
  • Tea