Increasing Intakes of EPA/DHA Lowers Chronic Daily Headaches [ISSFAL 2012]
Reference:
Ramsden , C. et al., National Institutes of Health , NIAAA Section on Nutritional Neurosciences, USA
(The present report is filed on-site by the DHA/EPA Omega-3 Institute from the 10th Congress of the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids held in Vancouver, BC)
Summary:
The researchers allocated 68 patients (average age of 41 years) with chronic headaches to one of two dietary interventions for 12 consecutive weeks. Group 1 consumed a diet with reduced intakes of omega-6 (n-6) fatty acids and typical US intakes of omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids while Group 2 also had reduced intakes of omega-6 fatty acids but with markedly increased intakes of EPA/DHA omega-3 from various food sources. The daily EPA plus DHA intakes were estimated to be less than 80 mg in Group 1 but approx.1500 mg in Group 2 (rising from a median of 47 at day 0 to 1482 mg/day at 12 weeks).
While no significant changes (from day 0 to 12 weeks) were found in the control group (low omega-3 intakes), those on the high EPA/DHA diets exhibited a significant decrease in headache impact (by 12 % overall) and a decrease in headache days (by 38 % overall). The researchers concluded that targeting dietary fatty acid changes which include marked increases in EPA/DHA omega-3 intakes may be a useful strategy for reducing headache morbidity.
Following the presentation of his study results, Dr. Ramsden offered the following quote to the DHA/EPA Omega-3 Institute: "Some people with chronic daily headaches who have exhausted pharmaceutical options may now have the option of trying a dietary intervention. Reduced consumption of the omega-6 fat, linoleic acid, combined with eating more fish, was associated with a marked reduction in the number of headache-days". The mechanisms which underlie the very interesting clinical findings on the pain-alleviating potential of EPA/DHA as applied to headaches remains for further study. To what extent the formation of anti- inflammatory products from EPA/DHA known as resolvins and protectins play a role is of added interest.