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Review
. 2023 Oct 11;15(20):4327.
doi: 10.3390/nu15204327.

Linking Migraine to Gut Dysbiosis and Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases

Manuela Di Lauro  1 , Cristina Guerriero  1 , Kevin Cornali  1 , Maria Albanese  1   2 , Micaela Costacurta  3 , Nicola Biagio Mercuri  1   2 , Nicola Di Daniele  1   4 , Annalisa Noce  1   5
Affiliations
Review

Linking Migraine to Gut Dysbiosis and Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases

Manuela Di Lauro et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

In the world, migraine is one of the most common causes of disability in adults. To date, there is no a single cause for this disorder, but rather a set of physio-pathogenic triggers in combination with a genetic predisposition. Among the factors related to migraine onset, a crucial role seems to be played by gut dysbiosis. In fact, it has been demonstrated how the intestine is able to modulate the central nervous system activities, through the gut-brain axis, and how gut dysbiosis can influence neurological pathologies, including migraine attacks. In this context, in addition to conventional pharmacological treatments for migraine, attention has been paid to an adjuvant therapeutic strategy based on different nutritional approaches and lifestyle changes able to positively modulate the gut microbiota composition. In fact, the restoration of the balance between the different gut bacterial species, the reconstruction of the gut barrier integrity, and the control of the release of gut-derived inflammatory neuropeptides, obtained through specific nutritional patterns and lifestyle changes, represent a possible beneficial additive therapy for many migraine subtypes. Herein, this review explores the bi-directional correlation between migraine and the main chronic non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, obesity, cancer, and chronic kidney diseases, whose link is represented by gut dysbiosis.

Keywords: chronic non-communicable diseases; gut microbiota; lifestyle changes; migraine; nutritional approaches.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Common trigger factors for migraine development and chronicization.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Main factors that can influence the gut microbiota composition. Abbreviation: BMI, body mass index; CNCDs, chronic non-communicable diseases; CNS, central nervous system.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Correlation between migraine and chronic non-communicable diseases. Abbreviation: CKD, chronic kidney diseases.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Modulation of gut microbiota composition and α-diversity by the physical activity degree.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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