The relationship between the gut-brain axis and migraine

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48208/HeadacheMed.2024.26

Keywords:

Gut-brain axis, Migraine, Gut microbiome, Neuroinflammation, Intestinal permeability, Short-chain fatty acids, Diet, Cytokines, Trigeminovascular system

Abstract

The gut-brain axis and its role in migraine are increasingly recognized in the scientific community. This mini-review aims to explore the complex interaction between the gut microbiome and the central nervous system (CNS). The gut microbiota communicates bidirectionally with the brain through immune, endocrine, vagal, and other humoral pathways, influencing brain function and contributing to neuroinflammation and immune system disturbances. An imbalance in the gut microbiome can lead to systemic inflammatory responses, disrupted intestinal barrier integrity, and increased intestinal permeability, known as the "leaky gut syndrome." This condition is associated with a pro-inflammatory state that may trigger migraine attacks through the release of cytokines, activation of the trigeminovascular system, and modulation of pain processing pathways in the brain. Key components such as vagus nerve signaling, altered secretion of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and neurotransmitter modulation play critical roles in this axis. The diet also significantly influences the microbiome, with high-fiber diets promoting anti-inflammatory SCFAs, while poor diets contribute to neuroinflammation and increased migraine susceptibility. Emerging evidence suggests that maintaining gut microbiome diversity and stability may alleviate migraine symptoms and enhance quality of life. This review highlights the importance of the gut-brain axis in migraine pathophysiology and suggests that targeting the microbiome could be an adjunctive therapeutic approach for migraine management.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Dalile B, Van Oudenhove L, Vervliet B, Verbeke K. The role of short-chain fatty acids in microbiota–gut–brain communication. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019 Aug 23;16(8):461–78. DOI: 10.1038/s41575-019-0157-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-019-0157-3

Arzani M, Jahromi SR, Ghorbani Z, Vahabizad F, Martelletti P, Ghaemi A, et al. Gut-brain Axis and migraine headache: a comprehensive review. J Headache Pain. 2020 Dec 13;21(1):15. DOI: 10.1186/s10194-020-1078-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-020-1078-9

Socała K, Doboszewska U, Szopa A, Serefko A, Włodarczyk M, Zielińska A, et al. The role of microbiota-gut-brain axis in neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders. Pharmacol Res. 2021 Oct;172:105840. DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105840 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105840

Spekker E, Nagy-Grócz G. All Roads Lead to the Gut: The Importance of the Microbiota and Diet in Migraine. Neurol Int. 2023 Sep 13;15(3):1174–90. DOI: 10.3390/neurolint15030073 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/neurolint15030073

Sgro M, Ray J, Foster E, Mychasiuk R. Making migraine easier to stomach: the role of the gut−brain−immune axis in headache disorders. Eur J Neurol. 2023 Nov 7;30(11):3605–21. DOI: 10.1111/ene.15934 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ene.15934

Riehl L, Fürst J, Kress M, Rykalo N. The importance of the gut microbiome and its signals for a healthy nervous system and the multifaceted mechanisms of neuropsychiatric disorders. Front Neurosci. 2024 Jan 5;17. DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1302957 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2023.1302957

Crawford J, Liu S, Tao F. Gut microbiota and migraine. Neurobiology of Pain. 2022 Jan;11:100090. DOI: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2022.100090 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ynpai.2022.100090

Kappéter Á, Sipos D, Varga A, Vigvári S, Halda-Kiss B, Péterfi Z. Migraine as a Disease Associated with Dysbiosis and Possible Therapy with Fecal Microbiota Transplantation. Microorganisms. 2023 Aug 14;11(8):2083. DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11082083 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11082083

Downloads

Published

2024-09-30

How to Cite

1.
Levis AA, Caverni CN, Wille J, Santos PSF. The relationship between the gut-brain axis and migraine. Headache Med [Internet]. 2024 Sep. 30 [cited 2024 Nov. 12];15(3):119-22. Available from: https://headachemedicine.com.br/index.php/hm/article/view/1127

Issue

Section

Review

Most read articles by the same author(s)