A migraine is a serious and debilitating condition. Treatment goals include preventing their occurrence and reducing the symptom severity when they occur. Omega-3 fatty acid consumption is a dietary approach which has been used to treat a variety of conditions. Researchers have also be interested in the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on migraine frequency and symptom severity in both adolescents and adults.
About Migraines
Migraines are severe, chronic headaches which cause pain for hours. Migraines are accompanied with symptoms including nausea, vomiting and light sensitivity. You may also experience flashes of light or blind spots in your vision. Some migraine sufferers may experience tingling sensations in their arms. There is currently no cure for migraines, but treatment may help reduce symptoms.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat found in fish, fish oils, some plants and nut oils. The American Heart Association recommends you eat fish at least twice a week to get adequate amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids play a role in brain function and heart health. There are a variety of other potential therapeutic use of omega-3, including reducing migraine frequency and symptom severity. However, the scientific research on omega-3 fatty acids and migraines is limited.
Research in Adolescents
Research on omega-3 and migraines is limited in adolescents. In the "Journal of Adolescents Health" in August 2002, researchers reported on a two-month randomized controlled trial on fish oil and migraine symptoms. Twenty-seven adolescents were randomized to received either fish oil or an olive oil placebo and asked to report the frequency of migraine symptoms. Although both groups reported a reduction in migraine symptoms, fish oil supplements were not more effective than olive oil. Because there was no difference between the two groups, omega-3 fatty acids may work primarily through the placebo effect. The placebo effect is a psychological phenomenon which means that the treatment worked simply because you believed it would.
Research in Adults
Research in adults is also limited. In 1985 and 1986, two small research studies showed that fish oils reduced migraine symptoms in adults. In October 2001, the journal "Cephalagia" reported on a larger randomized controlled trial of fish oil and migraine symptoms. In this study, patients were randomized to received either fish oil or a placebo and asked to report the number of migraines during the trial. Similar to what was observed in studies of adolescents, improvements in migraines were largely due to the placebo effect.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Migraine; June 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Omega-3 Fatty Acids; June 2009
- "Journal of Adolescent Health"; Supplementation with Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in the Management of Recurrent Migraines in Adolescents; Z. Harel, et al.; August 2002
- "Cephalagia"; Failure of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Prevention of Migraine: a Double-blind Study Versus Placebo; A. Pradalier, et al.; October 2001
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