Veterans suffering from Gulf War Illness have shown notable improvement in migraine symptoms after adhering to a low-glutamate diet, according to research from scientists at Georgetown University and American University. This groundbreaking study reveals not only relief from migraines but also measurable brain changes linked to dietary adjustments, offering a potential low-cost treatment for those afflicted since the Gulf War in the early 1990s.
The findings were presented on November 16, 2023, during the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience held in San Diego. The study highlights significant reductions in migraine occurrences and alterations in brain structure among participants who followed the low-glutamate regimen.
Understanding Gulf War Illness and Its Symptoms
Gulf War Illness is a chronic condition impacting over a quarter of veterans who served in the Gulf War. Symptoms include debilitating musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, and neurological issues, with migraines being one of the most common complaints. Researchers attribute these health issues to exposure to neurotoxic chemicals during the conflict.
Glutamate, an amino acid prevalent in processed foods and naturally occurring in items like tomatoes and mushrooms, plays a crucial role as an excitatory neurotransmitter in the nervous system. Its association with pain mediation has prompted interest in how dietary adjustments can influence neurological health.
The research collaboration included Kathleen Holton, Ph.D., MPH, a nutritional neuroscientist at American University, who developed the low-glutamate diet. Holton’s research aims to explore dietary interventions as a management strategy for neurological conditions. This diet is currently being investigated in a large multi-site clinical trial to further establish its efficacy for patients with Gulf War Illness.
Study Findings and Implications
In the initial phase of the study, researchers conducted brain scans to assess cortical thickness between veterans with Gulf War Illness and healthy control subjects. The results revealed that veterans had a significantly thicker right visual cortex, and this group was more likely to report migraines.
Subsequently, participants with Gulf War Illness followed the low-glutamate diet for one month. Follow-up scans indicated a marked reduction in cortical thickness, correlating with a substantial decrease in migraine frequency. “More than half of the Gulf War veterans had migraines before the diet, and that dropped to under 20% after following the diet for one month,” stated Ashley VanMeter, Ph.D., professor of neurology at Georgetown University School of Medicine.
Holton elaborated on the potential mechanisms, suggesting that glutamate might exacerbate symptoms of Gulf War Illness through excitotoxicity, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress. These processes may create a cycle that prolongs symptoms for those sensitive to dietary glutamate.
Beyond migraines, participants also reported significant improvements in other symptoms, including reductions in widespread pain, fatigue, mood disturbances, and cognitive dysfunction. The team plans to publish additional findings from their ongoing research to explore these benefits further.
The implications of this study reach beyond Gulf War veterans. Thickening of the visual cortex is common among individuals with migraines, especially those experiencing visual disturbances known as aura. This raises the possibility that a low-glutamate diet may provide relief to a broader population of migraine sufferers, potentially serving as an alternative to medication.
“This is a very doable diet,” VanMeter noted. “It’s a healthy diet, it’s not that hard to follow, and it’s a very low-cost way of treating what for some individuals is a chronic and debilitating condition.”
Holton emphasized that the study contributes to the growing body of evidence demonstrating the impact of ultra-processed foods on health. “This speaks to the fact that diet can not only make us sick, but can also acutely treat our symptoms,” she added.
Ongoing research will delve deeper into these findings and examine whether the integrity of the blood-brain barrier plays a role in glutamate sensitivity. As scientists continue to investigate the relationship between diet and neurological health, this study represents a significant step toward understanding and alleviating the suffering of those with Gulf War Illness and potentially millions of migraine sufferers worldwide.
