Could BACON be causing your migraines? Nitrates used in processed meats ‘may trigger attacks’
- Nitrates are used to preserve meats and naturally found in leafy greens
- Migraine sufferers found to have raised levels of certain types of bacteria
- These convert to nitrates and then nitric oxide which helps heart health
- But 4/5 patients taking nitrate-containing drugs report bad headaches
- Hopes one day a mouthwash can be developed to stop migraine attacks
Ben Spencer Medical Correspondent For The Daily Mail
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Eating bacon, sausages and other processed meats may increase the risk of migraines, research suggests.
Experts suspect that nitrates, which are used to preserve processed meat and are also found naturally in leafy greens, may be linked to migraine attacks.
Around eight million Britons – three quarters of them women – suffer migraine attacks, which involve dizziness, nausea and headaches.
Painkillers and other drugs can ease the symptoms but they only work for some patients.
Researchers from University of California San Diego School of Medicine found that people who regularly suffer migraines had raised levels of a certain type of bacteria in their mouths and guts which process nitrates.
People who suffer with migraines should avoid eating processed meats like bacon and sausages as nitrates, which are used to preserve them, have been linked to attacks
The bacteria convert nitrates into nitrites and then nitric oxide- a substance which promote cardiovascular health but is also known to trigger migraines.
Four in five heart patients who take nitrate-containing drugs report severe headaches as a side effect.
Using publicly available data from the American Gut Project, the team sequenced bacteria found in 172 oral samples and 1,996 stool samples.
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Researcher Dr Embriette Hyde, whose work is published in the journal MSystems, said: ‘We know for a fact that nitrate-reducing bacteria are found in the oral cavity.
‘We definitely think this pathway is advantageous to cardiovascular health.
‘We now also have a potential connection to migraines, though it remains to be seen whether these bacteria are a cause or result of migraines, or are indirectly linked in some other way.’
Professor Antonio Gonzalez added: ‘There is this idea out there that certain foods trigger migraines – chocolate, wine and especially foods containing nitrates.
Researchers hope to one-day develop a ‘magical’ probiotic mouthwash, which can benefit cardiovascular health without triggering migraines
‘We thought that perhaps there are connections between what people are eating, their microbiomes and their experiences with migraines.’
He said more research is needed before he could say that nitrates are directly linked to migraines, but added: ‘If you suspect that nitrates are causing you migraines you should try to avoid them in your diet.’
His team eventually wants to develop a ‘magical’ probiotic mouthwash, which can benefit cardiovascular health without triggering migraines.
Before then, however, the scientists need to establish why nitrates exacerbate migraines.
Separately, four major pharmaceutical firms are racing to be the first to introduce the first drug specifically designed to treat migraines.
Described as one of the few true ‘holy grails’ of medical research, an injection to truly tackle migraines is being pursued by drugs giants Amgen, Eli Lilly and Teva, who are each competing with Alder to get the first licence for the medication.
The first licensing applications are expected next year.
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