Dietary Changes May Reduce Chronic Headaches After Brain Injury

Recent clinical research highlights that adjusting dietary intake can significantly alleviate persistent post-traumatic headaches (pPTH), a common and often disabling issue following traumatic brain injury (TBI). A study conducted by researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, the Uniformed Services University, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) demonstrated that increasing omega-3 fatty acids—abundant in fatty fish such as salmon and tuna—while decreasing omega-6 fatty acids derived from seed oils like corn, sunflower, and cottonseed oils, resulted in fewer and less intense headaches.

Published in the Journal of Neurotrauma, this randomized trial involved 122 military beneficiaries experiencing chronic headaches post-TBI. Participants adhered to one of two diets over 12 weeks: a control diet reflecting typical U.S. omega-3 and omega-6 levels, and an intervention diet that boosted omega-3s and lowered omega-6s. The participants' main meals were provided for the duration, with the study carried out across three medical centers: Walter Reed, Alexander T. Augusta, and Womack Army Medical Center.

Results showed that individuals on the omega-3 rich, low omega-6 diet experienced approximately two fewer headache days per month and a 30% reduction in pain severity compared to the control group. Blood analyses confirmed increased levels of anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving omega-3 derivatives, indicating the diet's biological impact. Lead researcher Daisy Zamora, Ph.D., noted that this dietary approach might help stabilize neuroinflammation caused by brain injury.

The significance of these findings lies in their potential to change pain management strategies. By shifting dietary patterns to resemble pre-industrial diets—higher in omega-3s and lower in omega-6s—researchers believe we can better regulate pain and inflammation. Given that more than 40% of individuals, including many military service members, suffer from post-TBI headaches, and that no FDA-approved treatments currently exist, these dietary strategies offer a safe, accessible adjunct to traditional therapies.

Lead investigator Kimbra Kenney, MD, emphasized the importance of dietary adjustments, especially for populations disproportionately affected by TBI. This research advances our understanding of how nutrition influences neuroinflammation and pain, paving the way for novel, non-pharmacological interventions to improve quality of life for those with ongoing post-injury symptoms.