Gazi University Faculty of Medicine Department of Neurology Faculty Members Prof. Dr. Hayrunnisa Bolay and Dr. Doğa Vurallı’s study on migraine was published in “The Journal of Headache and Pain”. prof. Dr. Bolay stated that it is the most common brain disease in people under the age of 50 worldwide and said that it can be triggered by environmental factors, insomnia, stress and hormonal changes in people with genetic predisposition.
Bolay stated that moderate and high intensity pain caused by migraine attacks, increasing with movement, may be accompanied by loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, and drew attention to the fact that this adversely affects the quality of life of the person and prevents him from continuing his daily life.
INVESTIGATE THE EFFECTS
Explaining that some factors cause migraine attacks to become chronic, Bolay said, “With the chronicity of attacks, headaches occur every day or every other day. In this case, patients start to take painkillers every day. These drugs used to get rid of pain start to trigger attacks and pain over time. We investigated the mechanism by which anti-inflammatory drugs trigger migraine attacks and the effect of some foods on this point. said.
NEW TREATMENT OPTIONS CAN BE EVALUATED
Pointing out that some chemicals and drugs taken into the body can be excreted through the same enzyme, Bolay gave the following information about his research:
“There is a SULT enzyme group that ensures the removal of the anti-inflammatory drugs taken from the body. It suppresses the activity of this enzyme while the drugs are being excreted. We have shown that this situation can make migraine pain chronic. In these conditions, the suppression of the SULT enzyme by the ‘hesperidin’ substance found in foods such as orange and lemon, while it would not normally trigger migraine pain, it reduces the pain. It can become a trigger.”
Noting that new treatment options can be evaluated within the framework of the results of the study, Bolay said, “Patients using drugs are given a list of foods that can be thrown off the SULT enzyme, and patients can be asked to consume them carefully. They may be asked not to consume 2-3 foods from the list at the same time. At the same time, a new treatment target for the future is also included in the study. We’re determined.” made its assessment.
“PATIENTS USING EXTREME PAIN RELIEF DUE DAMAGE INSTEAD OF BENEFITS”
Dr. Vurallı also emphasized that the study revealed that the substances in drugs and some foods, by forming a common mechanism, have a migraine-increasing effect.
Noting that patients who experience migraine attacks should not use excessive pain medication, Vurallı said, “If patients use excessive pain medication, we stop it immediately for treatment. We recommend that they do not use any pain medication for a period of 4-6 weeks, or even if possible. Because after a certain period of time, patients take medication. Instead of seeing the benefit, it begins to see the harm, and the number of days with migraine is increasing.” said.
Pointing out that substances such as quercetin and catechin in chocolate, hesperidin in citrus fruits, and caffeic acids in coffee can suppress the SULT enzyme, Vurallı said, “Patients know best which food they eat causes negative effects. Therefore, we recommend that they stay away from those trigger foods.” he said.