Headaches are significant source of impairment. Current therapies for migraine prophylaxis lack specificity, have poor tolerability and limited efficacy, and have potential adverse effects, thus leading to poor results.
According to recent studies, ketogenic dietary treatment may provide symptomatic relief from migraine episodes. The ketogenic diet, which substitutes glucose, the brain's primary source of energy, with ketone bodies, is a promising approach that may reduce the number and intensity of headaches.
The study findings indicate that ketogenic treatment may improve migraine treatment. Proper measurement of ketone levels during ketogenic therapy is essential to monitor adherence and improve understanding of the relationship between ketone bodies and efficacy.
Some important considerations include the correlation between migraine improvement and weight loss in overweight subjects, a lack of a well-defined association between blood and urine ketones, and potential mechanisms of action for ketogenic therapy.
More studies are needed that should evaluate compliance rates according to migraine type and diverse ketogenic dietary interventions, as well as their optimal duration, repeatability, feasibility in normal-weight individuals, and association with conventional migraine prophylaxis.
Journal reference: de Cassya Lopes Neri, L., Ferraris, C., Catalano, G., et al. (2023) Ketosis and migraine: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2023.1204700/full