October 25, 2016.

Recurrent headaches may be triggered by processed meats, according to a study by a team of researchers from the San Diego School of Medicine in California.

The bacteria responsible for migraines?

Do you regularly suffer from migraines? Your diet may have something to do with it. In any case, this is what American researchers suggest in a study published in the journal MSystems. According to this work, migraine patients would have higher levels of certain oral bacteria than people who were not migraine sufferers.

These bacteria, which convert nitrates to nitric oxide in the blood, are present in processed meats, cold cuts, but also in wines, chocolate, leafy vegetables and certain heart medications. To reach these conclusions, the researchers analyzed 172 oral samples and 1996 stool samples.

More bacteria in people with migraine

The samples richest in bacteria, involved in the metabolism of dietary nitrates, were those of people who suffered from migraines. ” We now know that there is a potential link between gut bacteria and migraines but it remains to be seen whether they are a cause or a consequence. ”, Indicated Dr. Embriette Hyde who participated in the experiment.

A roughly similar finding was made in patients who were taking drugs to treat chest pain or congestive heart failure. Almost four in five patients who took drugs containing nitrate had severe headaches.

« This could be explained by the fact that, during food or drug intake of an element rich in nitrates, these bacteria present in the mouth massively degrade nitrate, thus triggering migraine attacks Added Dr. Embriette Hyde.

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