Nutrition, Hormones, and CGRP in Migraine: An Integrative Review of Micronutrient and Mitochondrial Mechanisms

Abstract

Migraine is a neurological disorder characterized by severe throbbing and one-sided pain in the head. It is more than “just a headache”. It is associated with several other symptoms including nausea, vomiting, visual disturbances like spotting, and increased sensitivity to light, sound and smell. However, the exact cause of a migraine attack is not known. A migraine attack can be triggered by a multitude of factors including specific smells, loud sounds, bright flashes of light, sudden changes in temperatures, certain foods and drinks, hormonal fluctuations, sleep disturbances, physical exertion and even certain medications. About 1 billion people suffer from migraine attacks, most of them being women. Approximately three times as many women experience migraines compared to men. Hence, an attempt has been made to understand how specific dietary patterns and micronutrients influence hormonal fluctuations and analyze how these fluctuations are associated with migraine attack frequency and severity.