Posted on March 8, 2010.
Wheat as a trigger for migraine Several case studies have linked food intolerance and migraine; this article is part of a series that takes a closer some foods less often suspected when a food sensitivity seems to be causing a problem migraine.
Most people think first of red wine, chocolate and cheese as the most common foods that will cause a migraine. In 1979, the prestigious journal The Lancet published research on migraine and food intolerances, finding the wheat on the most common trigger of migraine (1).
In fact, wheat has recently been linked to a proliferation of other health problems ranging from fatigue to bloating.
Wheat is a major allergen, with approximately 78% of migraine is related to a food intolerance, wheat is identified as the main trigger (1). This can go unnoticed for long, because wheat is so prevalent in food that is completely cut extremely difficult and requires a detailed examination of the labels for unsuspected sources. Consult your healthcare professional for detailed advice or you could put you at considerable inconvenience yet be unwittingly still consuming wheat-containing food or beverages.
Some argue that claims allergy to wheat is an affectation, citing the desire to follow celebrities such as Rachel Weisz has been public about her wheat intolerance. Many others, however, simply point to the incredible obstacles facing those who would reduce wheat and gluten from their diet, and ask that anyone would struggle to overcome had it not real benefit.
Many migraine sufferers are actually believed to be victims of celiac disease, a severe wheat and gluten intolerance which can cause severe gastrointestinal problems and fatigue, migraines and more. One of the most frustrating aspects of migraine is the inability to stop them once they take control, so any form of prevention is always welcome.
In a study conducted at the Gemelli hospital in Rome, Italy, researchers found a marked improvement in migraine patients with celiac disease when placed on a gluten-free diet, leading some to speculate that a large percentage of patients migraineurs have been celiac disease (2).
Other links between wheat intolerance and migraines have been studied, and in one case at least another link between wheat gluten and headaches was made in nine of ten patients experienced relief of pain head - and the tenth has refused to eliminate gluten from their diet (3).
Some people choose to become vegan, to improve their diet and remove foods to which they have a sensibility. Although a significant number of them cease having headaches shortly after beginning a vegan lifestyle, others have a sharp increase in the number and severity of headaches.
The Coeliac Society has several forums and many reports of first hand experiences of vegans who discovered they had celiac disease causing various health problems, such as vegan products depend largely on the wheat / soy protein to replace they should normally have meat and dairy products. For some people who have consumed a large quantity of corn to replace proteins and carbohydrates, they were absent on avoiding dairy products and meat had triggered intolerance to gluten. With that large quantities of gluten eliminated from the diet, the migraines ceased (4).
Based on this information, it seems likely that the wheat gluten and are responsible for triggering migraine, subsequently, a period of abstinence trial would be an effective way to prove it. (5).
Sources:
(1) Grant ECG, Food, allergies and migraine, Lancet, May 5, 1979, 966-969
(2) Am J Gastroenterol. Jul 2003 98 (7): 1674 March edition of the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
(3) American Academy of Neurology (2001, February 14); gluten in the diet.
