Affiliation:
1. Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
2. Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health Iran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
3. Student Research Committee, Faculty of Public Health Branch Iran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
4. Headache Department, Iranian Centre of Neurological Research, Neuroscience Institute Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
5. Department of Clinical Nutrition School of Medicine Guilan University of Medical Sciences Rasht Iran
6. Department of Neurology University of California san Diego (UCSD) San Diego California USA
7. Multiple Sclerosis Research Center Neuroscience Institute Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
Abstract
AbstractMigraine headaches are the most prevalent disabling primary headaches, affecting individuals at an active age. Dietary interventions are considered low‐cost and practical approaches to migraine prophylaxis. Hence, the present study aimed to assess the association between adherence to the Healthy Eating Index 2015 (HEI‐2015) and migraine headaches. The present case–control study was conducted on 476 newly diagnosed adults with migraine headaches, based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders 3rd edition (ICHDIII criteria(, and 512 healthy controls. Participants' dietary intakes were collected using a validated, 168‐item semi‐quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The association between HEI‐2015 and migraine headaches was assessed using logistic regression models. Although the trend was not statistically significant, being in the 4th quantile of the HEI‐2015 was associated with about 50% lower odds of migraine headaches in both primary (adjusted for age and gender) (odds ratios (OR): 0.51, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.33, 0.78) and fully adjusted models (additionally adjusted for body mass index (BMI) and total calories) (adjusted OR: 0.50, 95%CI: 0.32, 0.77). Intriguingly, the odds of migraine headaches were significantly higher in those in the last quantile of “Total Fruits,” which is equal to more than 237 g per 1000 kcal (aOR: 2.96, 95%CI: 1.99, 4.41) and “Whole Fruits,” which is equal to more than 233 g per 1000 kcal (aOR: 2.90, 95%CI: 1.94, 4.31). Similarly, higher intakes of “Dairy,” which is equal to more than 138 g per 1000 kcal (aOR: 2.66, 95%CI: 1.71, 4.14), and “Total Protein Foods,” which is equal to more than 259 g per 1000 kcal (aOR: 2.41, 95%CI: 1.58, 3.70), were associated with higher odds of migraine headaches. The current study revealed an indirect association between HEI‐2015 and its components, including “Greens and Beans,” “Whole Grains,” “Refined Grains,” and “Added Sugars” and lower odds of migraine headaches.