From Bellyaches to Headaches: The Gut-Migraine Link

How Your Gut Microbiome Shapes Migraines and Headaches

For many people, migraines and headaches are a frustrating, recurring part of life. While stress, hormones, and genetics are well-known triggers, scientists are uncovering an unexpected player in this story: the gut microbiome. This vast community of bacteria living in your digestive tract doesn’t just help digest food; it also sends signals to your brain, influences inflammation, and can play a surprising role in when and how migraines strike, how long they last, and how they resolve.

The Gut-Brain Connection

You guessed it, because this connection influences so many of our day-to-day challenges, you can expect that we will discuss this overlooked organ system continuously throughout my posts. Our gut and brain are in constant conversation through what’s called the “gut-brain axis.” The bacteria in your gut produce chemicals, like serotonin and dopamine, that affect mood and pain. When the balance of these bacteria is disturbed (a state called dysbiosis), it can set off a chain reaction. This imbalance can increase the production of certain substances, such as glutamate, which can stimulate pain pathways in the brain and contribute to migraine attacks. Some studies have found that people with migraines have higher levels of certain bacteria that process nitrates, which are known migraine triggers.

Spekker E, Nagy-Grócz G. All Roads Lead to the Gut: The Importance of the Microbiota and Diet in Migraine. Neurology International. 2023; 15(3):1174-1190.

Inflammation is another key link. When the gut lining becomes “leaky” due to an unhealthy microbiome, it allows inflammatory molecules to enter the bloodstream. These molecules can reach the brain and make the nervous system more sensitive, potentially triggering or worsening migraines. Research shows that people with migraines often have higher levels of inflammatory markers in their blood, which may be connected to changes in their gut bacteria.

What does science say?

Several studies have dug into this gut-migraine connection. One large genetic study used a technique called Mendelian randomization to show a direct, causal relationship between the composition of gut bacteria and the risk of migraines. It identified specific types of bacteria that either increased or decreased migraine risk, suggesting that targeting these bacteria could become a new way to prevent or treat migraines!

Clinical research has also compared the gut microbiomes of people with migraines to those without. These studies consistently find that migraine sufferers have less diverse gut bacteria and more phyla linked to inflammation. For example, one study found that people with more of a bacteria called Agathobacter had less severe headaches, while another type, PAC000195_g, was linked to fewer headaches overall. Another experiment in mice showed that when gut bacteria were disrupted with antibiotics, migraine-like pain lasted longer, but when healthy gut bacteria were restored, the pain resolved more quickly.

Can Changing Your Gut Help Migraines?

Because of these discoveries, scientists are testing whether changing the gut microbiome can help with migraines. Early trials using probiotics have shown mixed but promising results. In some studies, people who took probiotics for several weeks had fewer and less severe migraine attacks, though not all studies found a benefit. Diet also plays a role: eating more fiber and less processed food helps grow a healthier gut microbiome, which may reduce migraine risk and frequency.

The Big Picture

The gut microbiome is now recognized as a key player in the cause, duration, and resolution of migraines. While we don’t have all the answers yet, the evidence is growing that a healthy gut can help calm the brain and reduce the misery of migraines. As research continues, we may see new treatments that focus on restoring gut balance through diet, probiotics, or other innovative therapies to bring relief to millions who suffer from headaches and migraines.

References

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6. Zhang L, Wang Y, Li J, et al. A thorough investigation into the correlation between migraines and the gut microbiota: A bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis and meta-analysis. Front Neurol. 2024;15:11250663. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11250663/

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