Evaluation of the associations of adherence to the MIND and mediterranean diets and the dietary inflammatory index on the age of migraine onset and disability in patients with migraine.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the associations of adherence to the MIND and Mediterranean diets, as well as the dietary inflammatory index (DII), on the age of migraine onset and the disability among patients diagnosed with migraine with aura, migraine without aura, and chronic migraine.

Methods: This observational case-control study was conducted from 1 June to 30 September 2023, involving a total of 144 adult participants. The cohort included 84 newly diagnosed migraine patients, categorized as 45 without aura, 21 with aura, and 18 with chronic migraine, alongside a control group of 60 healthy individuals. Data were collected through a general information questionnaire, adherence scores to the MIND and Mediterranean diets, and the DII. Additionally, the patient group completed a migraine diagnosis form and the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS).

Results: Both in univariate and multivariable analyses, both low and moderate adherence are associated with increased odds compared to high adherence. In multivariable analyses, low adherence to the MIND diet increases the odds of migraines by 8.18 times (95% CI = 1.49-44.75), while moderate adherence increases them by 5.29 times (95% CI = 1.32-21.12). Low adherence to the MEDAS (OR =   9.90; 95% CI = 3.08-31.77) also shows a strong association with migraine in univariate analysis, but this association weakens in the multivariable analysis (OR = 3.14; 95% CI = 0.70-13.98). Higher quartiles (Q2-Q4) to DII were initially associated with migraines in univariate analysis but were not significant in multivariable analysis. Moreover, among the variables analyzed, chronic migraine shows a strong and significant association with MIDAS score compared to migraine without aura (β = 0.54, p < 0.001). However, MEDAS and DII do not meet the significance threshold for MIDAS. Only MIND is significantly associated with the age at migraine diagnosis (β = 0.38, p = 0.044).

Conclusion: The findings suggest that dietary patterns play a crucial protective role for patients with migraine. Nonetheless, further longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to elucidate the relationship between dietary patterns, the onset of migraine, and the frequency and severity of migraine attacks.