Doubts over greens giving migraine sufferers relief

By REBECCA WALSH, health reporter

A Victoria University researcher believes a simple dietary supplement could help people who suffer migraine headaches.

Genetic epidemiologist Dr Rod Lea and colleagues at Brisbane's Griffith University have discovered that a mutated gene is far more common in those who suffer migraines.

About 480,000 New Zealanders are estimated to suffer from the headaches.

"This mutation means migraine sufferers are likely to have higher levels of a particular amino acid or protein called homocysteine in the blood," Dr Lea said.

"But a diet rich in folate can reduce levels of homocysteine. For many people folate-rich foods such as green vegetables or folate supplements could not only help ward off migraines but may also help prevent strokes."

But Hamilton GP Dr Leo Revell said that although he had noticed higher levels of the amino acid in migraine sufferers, in practice the theory did not work.

"I have a lot of patients with migraines and high levels of homocysteine. I have treated them vigorously with folic acid, vitamin B6 and B12 and it hasn't made the slightest bit of difference."

Dr Revell said he did not believe homocysteine caused migraines.

The research, published in British online journal BMC Medicine, said blood samples were taken from 550 people, of whom half suffered migraines.

After analysing the DNA it was discovered that a mutation of one gene was more common in those with migraine with aura (a migraine characterised by blurred vision and often followed by nausea, vomiting and avoidance of light and sound).

Dr Lea, from the School of Biological Sciences, said that although it was too early to say if a folate-rich diet could cure migraines, it could provide an alternative for those who found traditional drugs did not work.

The team hoped to organise clinical trials to assess how effective folate was in reducing migraine symptoms.

Associate Professor Murray Skeaff, of Otago University's human nutrition department, said the research had raised an interesting question but was a long way from suggesting a potential cure.

There was no evidence that eating lots of green vegetables or taking folic acid supplements would make a difference but there was no harm in someone trying it.

Dr Skeaff said large clinical trials were under way overseas to see if folic acid could reduce homocysteine and prevent heart disease and stroke. One small study published in February showed it had no effect in reducing strokes over a three-year period.