Association between serum carotenoids and migraine in adults: a cross-sectional study from NHANES data.

Background: Little is known regarding the impact of serum carotenoids, a class of compounds having anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, on migraine. This study aimed to examine the association between serum carotenoid levels and migraine risk among United States adults.

Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 7744 individuals aged 20 years or older from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2001 and 2004. The concentrations of five serum carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and lutein + zeaxanthin) and retinol were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. Migraine was diagnosed when participants reported that they had severe headaches or migraines during the past three months. Weighted multivariable logistic regression and restricted cubic spline models were used to determine the association between serum carotenoid levels and migraine risk.

Results: Among the 7744 participants enrolled in the study, 1595 (20.6%) had migraine. Compared with the lowest quartiles, the highest quartiles of the three serum carotenoids were associated with a lower risk of migraine, with a multivariable-adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 0.74 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.57-0.97) for α-carotene, 0.64 (95% CI, 0.49-0.83) for β-carotene, and 0.64 (95% CI, 0.53-0.78) for lutein + zeaxanthin, while the third quartile of serum β-cryptoxanthin had lower odds of migraine (OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.54-0.90). The U-shaped patterns of nonlinear relationships between serum β-cryptoxanthin and lutein + zeaxanthin levels and migraine risk were represented by restricted cubic splines. No association was observed between serum lycopene and retinol levels and migraine.

Conclusions: Low serum carotenoid levels were associated with an increased risk of migraine. Further prospective investigations are warranted to clarify the causative relationship and explore the possible prevention and treatment of migraine using carotenoid supplementation.