A change in diet may help reduce persistent headaches after traumatic brain injury, with patients reporting two fewer headache days each month.
The study included 122 military healthcare beneficiaries with chronic post-traumatic headaches who followed different diets for 12 weeks.
Half were given a control diet with typical US levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, while the others followed an intervention diet with higher omega-3 and lower omega-6 levels. Most daily meals were provided during the trial.
Researchers from the University of North Carolina’s Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation found those on the intervention diet had around two fewer headache days per month and a 30 per cent reduction in daily headache pain intensity.
Blood tests confirmed the diet increased levels of omega-3 derivatives, which help reduce inflammation and pain.
The trial took place at three military medical centres: Walter Reed in Maryland, Alexander T. Augusta in Virginia, and Womack in North Carolina.
Daisy Zamora, Ph is lead author and associate professor in UNC’s Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.
She said: “This study is particularly exciting because it suggests that dietary interventions can stabilise neuroinflammatory processes triggered by brain injury,” said
“By changing the amounts of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids from those typical in modern industrialised diets to levels consistent with pre-industrial diets, this research can help us understand how the body naturally regulates pain.
“This knowledge is essential to the development of new and improved approaches for managing pain and inflammation in many disease conditions.”
More than 40 per cent of people experience persistent headaches after a traumatic brain injury, particularly military service members.
Despite this, there are no FDA-approved treatments for the condition.
Lead investigator Kimbra Kenney, MD is professor in the Department of Neurology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
The researcher said: “This research provides a compelling case for considering dietary adjustments as an adjunctive treatment option.
“This is especially important for populations like military personnel, who are disproportionately affected by TBI-related chronic headaches.”
