Effect of Flaxseed Supplementation on Headache Characteristics and Quality of Life in Patients with Migraine: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
- 2026-03
- The Journal of nutrition 156(3)
- Amirhosein Jafarpour
- Vahid Reza Ostovan
- Masoumeh Akhlaghi
- PubMed: 41478596
- DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.101312
Study Design
- Type
- Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
- Sample size
- n = 68
- Population
- 68 patients with migraine
- Methods
- Randomized controlled trial, 20 g/d of either flaxseed powder (intervention) or roasted wheat powder (control) for 8 wk
- Duration
- 8 wk
Background
Migraine is a prevalent neurologic disorder that is linked to neuroinflammation. Flaxseed is a plant source of omega-3 (n‒3) fatty acids, which may display anti-inflammatory effects through conversion to long-chain ω-3 fatty acids with known anti-inflammatory potential.Objectives
We examined the effect of flaxseed supplementation on headache characteristics and psychosocial well-being in patients with migraine.Methods
This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 68 patients with migraine. Participants consumed 20 g/d of either flaxseed powder (intervention) or roasted wheat powder (control) for 8 wk. Primary outcomes included: headache frequency, duration, and severity. Secondary outcomes were psychological states (depression, anxiety, and stress), quality of life, sleep quality, weight, and blood pressure. Data were analyzed using SPSS.Results
At the end of the 8-wk intervention, the flaxseed group showed significant improvements in headache severity (‒5.0 ± 2.2 compared with ‒1.0 ± 1.9, P < 0.001), headache impact score (quality of life) (‒15.7 ± 11.0 compared with ‒2.3 ± 8.1, P < 0.001), and insomnia severity index (‒4.6 ± 6.5 compared with ‒1.6 ± 4.9, P = 0.029) compared with the control group. Changes in headache frequency or duration, as well as other measurements, were not significant between groups. Per-protocol and intention-to-treat analyses yielded identical results.Conclusions
Daily consumption of flaxseed for 8 wk may improve headache severity, sleep quality, and quality of life in patients with migraine. Further research is warranted to confirm these findings and explore underlying mechanisms.Research Insights
headache impact score (quality of life) (‒15.7 ± 11.0 compared with ‒2.3 ± 8.1, P < 0.001)
- Effect
- Beneficial
- Effect size
- Moderate
- Dose
- 20 g/d
insomnia severity index (‒4.6 ± 6.5 compared with ‒1.6 ± 4.9, P = 0.029)
- Effect
- Beneficial
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 20 g/d
Changes in headache frequency or duration, as well as other measurements, were not significant between groups.
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 20 g/d
Changes in headache frequency or duration, as well as other measurements, were not significant between groups.
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 20 g/d
Changes in headache frequency or duration, as well as other measurements, were not significant between groups.
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 20 g/d
Changes in headache frequency or duration, as well as other measurements, were not significant between groups.
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 20 g/d
Changes in headache frequency or duration, as well as other measurements, were not significant between groups.
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 20 g/d
Changes in headache frequency or duration, as well as other measurements, were not significant between groups.
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 20 g/d
the flaxseed group showed significant improvements in headache severity (‒5.0 ± 2.2 compared with ‒1.0 ± 1.9, P < 0.001)
- Effect
- Beneficial
- Effect size
- Large
- Dose
- 20 g/d
Changes in headache frequency or duration, as well as other measurements, were not significant between groups.
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 20 g/d
Adverse Events Reported
Changes in headache frequency or duration, as well as other measurements, were not significant between groups.
- Finding
- No significant difference
- Significant
- No