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Video Presentations on Migraine & Metabolic Syndrome

015: Got MIGRAINE HEADACHE? Watch This! (Ft. STANTON MIGRAINE PROTOCOL) PART 1 – What Is Migraine?

Dr. Angela Stanton has a doctorate in NeuroEcononomics from Claremont Graduate University and is fMRI certified with the Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at Harvard University. She also has an MS in Management Science and Engineering (Stanford University), MBA (University of California – Riverside) and BSc Mathematics (UCLA). Her doctoral research focused on understanding how human decision-making is influenced by neurotransmitter changes. She ran clinical trial experiments, gaining an appreciation of the role hormones play in emotional and physiological decisions. A lifelong migraine sufferer, in 2008 she took early retirement from her academic career and has become an avid researcher of migraines. Her efforts in understanding the cause of migraine have been assisted by thousands of migraine sufferers around the world. In 2014 she published the first, and in 2017 the second edition, of the book (Fighting The Migraine Epidemic: Complete Guide; How to Treat & Prevent Migraines Without Medicines) that established her as a leader in the field of migraine research based on nutritional and electrolyte management. She now teaches migraine sufferers and healthcare providers all over the world about how to abort and prevent migraines without any medicine. She is a lecturer at Nutrition Network, a leading accredited online education learning platform for CPD continuing education for healthcare professionals.

In this episode (PART 1 – Understanding Migraine), we discuss what migraine headache is, how it differs from other kinds of headache, its mechanisms as an ion channelopathy, the stages of its propagation and its relation to human evolution.

Watch PART 2 - how migraine can be controlled and/or avoided successfully without medicines especially using the low carbohydrate dietary approach coupled with electrolyte supplementation.

015B: Got MIGRAINE HEADACHE? WATCH THIS! PART 2 – Low Carb Works! Ft. the STANTON MIGRAINE PROTOCOL

Dr. Angela Stanton is a doctorate in NeuroEcononomics from Claremont Graduate University and is fMRI certified with the Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at the Harvard University. She also has an MS in Management Science and Engineering (Stanford Univeristy), MBA (University of California – Riverside) and BSc Mathematics (UCLA). Her doctoral research focused on understanding how human decision-making is influenced by neurotransmitter changes. She ran clinical trial experiments, gaining an appreciation of the role hormones play in emotional and physiological decisions. A lifelong migraine sufferer, in 2008 she took early retirement from her academic career and has become an avid researcher of migraines. Her efforts in understanding the cause of migraine have been assisted by thousands of migraine sufferers around the world. In 2014 she published the first, and in 2017 the second edition, of the book (Fighting The Migraine Epidemic: Complete Guide; How to Treat & Prevent Migraines Without Medicines) that established her as a leader in the field of migraine research based on nutritional and electrolyte management. She now teaches migraine sufferers and healthcare providers all over the world about how to abort and prevent migraines without any medicine. She is a lecturer at Nutrition Network, a leading accredited online education learning platform for CPD continuing education for healthcare professionals.

In this episode (PART 2 – How Low Carb Works for Migraine), we discuss how a diet lower in carbohydrates could mitigate the occurrence of migraine headaches, and what are the specific mechanisms involved in using the low carb diet and electrolyte supplementation for migraine headache control.

Watch PART 1  - what migraine headache is, how it differs from other headaches, how it propagates and evolves.

The Metabolic Classroom Ep 8: Does High Insulin Cause Migraine Headaches? - with Dr. Benjamin Bikman

Does high insulin lead to more migraines? Dr. Ben Bikman and the Insulin IQ team examine the evidence showing why people who suffer from migraines may want to re-evaluate their nutrition and lifestyle to control insulin.

Natural Migraine Relief (Stanton Migraine Protocol Review) - with Dr. Angela Stanton PhD

Listen to Dr Angela Stanton, author & scientist with a PhD in Neuroeconomics, explain how to prevent and treat migraines (short + long-term) without medications.

In today's interview, we get a chance to talk about why some people get migraines, whilst others don't.

Angela explains how the migraineur's brain is somewhat different to normal brains; it needs more energy and is more easily stimulated.

Genetics are important, but this does not mean everybody with the 'migraine brain' is doomed to suffer from migraines. Environmental factors and diet contribute a vital piece of the puzzle, because migraineurs are also different metabolically. By addressing the electrolyte imbalance, migraine pain can be resolved and kept at bay long-term.

If you know someone who is a migraine sufferer and is interested in how they can prevent and treat their migraines + learn how The Stanton Migraine Protocol can help them come off pain medication, this interview is for them.

I enjoyed this interview with Angela as she shared so much information to help explain why migraine sufferers experience the symptoms they do. By knowing the underlying mechanisms going on in the body it makes it that much easier to understand and recognise warning signs and remedy them; avoiding migraine episodes altogether. I loved the tips she shared about how we can use sodium, potassium and water instead of reaching for that painkiller!

Balancing Electrolytes and Supporting Migraines - Salt on a Low-Carb, Keto, Carnivore Diet - Part 1

(Nutrition with Judy) In this episode, Dr. Angela Stanton and I discuss: 

1. Dr. Angela Stanton Introduction

2. The difference between headaches and migraines

3. Carbs, slat, migraines

4. Recommended amounts of salt

5. Hypertension and salt

6. The role of salt in migraines

7. Salt in a carnivore diet

8. Balancing electrolytes

9. Taking medicine for migraines

Balancing Electrolytes and Supporting Migraines - Salt on a Low-Carb, Keto, Carnivore Diet - Part 2

(Nutrition with Judy) In this episode, Dr. Angela Stanton and I discuss: 

1. Coffee and headaches

2. The meaning of heightened senses

3. Eating foods with salt and carbs

4. Supplementing potassium

5. Supporting leg cramps

6. When to take magnesium

7. MSG and headaches

8. What kind of salt to use

9. Supplementation for migraines

10. Vitamin B deficiency

11. Carnivore diet today vs carnivore diet from 10,000 years ago

12. Where to find Angela

Migraines and the Ketogenic Diet - Dr. Elena Gross, PhD

Elena Gross began suffering from migraines at the age of 15. She tried both pharmacological options and alternative treatments, but her migraines were only getting worse. Watch this video to find out how a ketogenic diet helped her!

The Metabolic Management of Migraines | Elena Gross, PhD | The Metabolic Link Ep. 15

It’s said that more than one billion individuals around the world suffer from migraines each year. A migraine isn’t your average headache. It’s often completely debilitating and may include sensitivity to light and sound, vomiting, severe pain, and other symptoms that can wreak havoc on quality of life. Despite being one of the most common neurological disorders on the planet with a high prevalence in (particularly female) young adults, many of those troubled by migraines do not receive effective care and continue to suffer.

Lack of tolerable and efficacious treatment options is exactly what led our most recent interview guest of The Metabolic Link, Dr. Elena Gross, to pursue her degree in neuroscience at the University of Oxford and her PhD in clinical research. Dr. Gross is on a mission to better understand this common disease and ultimately wants to improve clinical care with a metabolic approach to its management.

Dr. Gross is particularly passionate about the therapeutic benefits of ketosis and other nutritional interventions, the role of mitochondrial functioning and energy metabolism in brain health and neurological diseases, as well as increasing our health span via disease prevention. She’s also an inventor on four patents, founder and CEO of a company called Brain Ritual, and the creator of the Mastering Migraine Community. She went from suffering from chronic migraines herself to now leading the charge in research and educational outreach that explores the underlying thread of metabolism in migraine.

LowCarbMD Podcast Episode 135: Dr. Josh Turknett

We are joined on the show today by Dr. Josh Turknett. Dr Turknett graduated from Emory University School of Medicine, did his residency in neurology at the University of Florida. He is the author of two books: The Migraine Miracle and Keto For Migraine. In this episode we discuss the evolutionary approach to the optimal human diet and ketosis, the multi-variable causes of chronic migraines and other diseases, the importance of the role of the microbiome in understanding migraines and ketosis, Epilepsy and Alzheimers, the impact of caffeine on someone suffering from migraines, the relationship between stress and migraines, and physician-entrepreneurship.

Scholarly Articles on Migraine & Metabolic Syndrome

Potential Protective Mechanisms of Ketone Bodies in Migraine PreventionAn increasing amount of evidence suggests that migraines are a response to a cerebral energy deficiency or oxidative stress levels that exceed antioxidant capacity. The ketogenic diet (KD), a diet mimicking fasting that leads to the elevation of ketone bodies (KBs), is a therapeutic intervention targeting cerebral metabolism that has recently shown great promise in the prevention of migraines. KBs are an alternative fuel source for the brain, and are thus likely able to circumvent some of the abnormalities in glucose metabolism and transport found in migraines. Recent research has shown that KBs—D-β-hydroxybutyrate in particular—are more than metabolites. As signalling molecules, they have the potential to positively influence other pathways commonly believed to be part of migraine pathophysiology, namely: mitochondrial functioning, oxidative stress, cerebral excitability, inflammation and the gut microbiome. This review will describe the mechanisms by which the presence of KBs, D-BHB in particular, could influence those migraine pathophysiological mechanisms. To this end, common abnormalities in migraines are summarised with a particular focus on clinical data, including phenotypic, biochemical, genetic and therapeutic studies. Experimental animal data will be discussed to elaborate on the potential therapeutic mechanisms of elevated KBs in migraine pathophysiology, with a particular focus on the actions of D-BHB. In complex diseases such as migraines, a therapy that can target multiple possible pathogenic pathways seems advantageous. Further research is needed to establish whether the absence/restriction of dietary carbohydrates, the presence of KBs, or both, are of primary importance for the migraine protective effects of the KD.
Ketogenic diet in refractory migraine: possible efficacy and role of ketone bodies—a pilot experience - Neurological SciencesIntroduction Refractory migraine is a particularly disabling form of chronic migraine, unresponsive to multiple prophylactic strategies. Ketogenic diet (KD) is useful to treat migraine but poorly tested for refractory migraine. Objective We started exploring the efficacy and safety of KD, as compared to a non-ketogenic dietary regimen similar in reduction of carbohydrate intake (low-carb diet, LCD), in refractory migraine. Secondary objective was to explore whether ketones have a role in the prophylaxis induced by KD on migraine. Results In a first trial, 22 patients with refractory migraine were included and completed the study. Thirteen (mean age 36.8 ± 12.9 years, 11 females, 2 males) were assigned to the KD arm and eight (mean age 50.9 ± 10.8 years; all females), not eligible for KD, to LCD. Patients treated with KD showed a significant reduction in the frequency of migraine attacks, intensity of headache, and amount of drug intake. No significant benefit was seen in the LCD group. A relationship between ketone production and effect on headache was observed among patients with a good response to KD. In a second study, additional 31 refractory migraineurs were treated with these two dietary regimens, 26 with the same KD scheme and 5 with a LCD. Results were comparable with those of the first study. Conclusions KD might be a useful option in refractory migraine. Ketones seem to have a role in migraine modulation and their regular measurement might be useful to monitor KD in migraineurs. Larger, randomized, and controlled trials are needed to confirm these data.
Can Ketogenic Diet Therapy Improve Migraine Frequency, Severity and Duration?Migraine is the third most common condition worldwide and is responsible for a major clinical and economic burden. The current pilot trial investigated whether ketogenic diet therapy (KDT) is superior to an evidence-informed healthy “anti-headache” dietary pattern (AHD) in improving migraine frequency, severity and duration. A 12-week randomised controlled crossover trial consisting of the two dietary intervention periods was undertaken. Eligible participants were those with a history of migraines and who had regularly experienced episodes of moderate or mildly intense headache in the previous 4 weeks. Migraine frequency, duration and severity were assessed via self-report in the Migraine Buddy© app. Participants were asked to measure urinary ketones and side effects throughout the KDT. Twenty-six participants were enrolled, and 16 participants completed all sessions. Eleven participants completed a symptom checklist; all reported side-effects during KDT, with the most frequently reported side effect being fatigue (n = 11). All completers experienced migraine during AHD, with 14/16 experiencing migraine during KDT. Differences in migraine frequency, severity or duration between dietary intervention groups were not statistically significant. However, a clinically important trend toward lower migraine duration on KDT was noted. Further research in this area is warranted, with strategies to lower participant burden and promote adherence and retention.
Sociodemographic and comorbidity profiles of chronic migraine and episodic migraine sufferersObjective To characterise and compare the sociodemographic profiles and the frequency of common comorbidities for adults with chronic migraine (CM) and episodic migraine (EM) in a large population-based sample. Methods The American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention (AMPP) study is a longitudinal, population-based, survey. Data from the 2005 survey were analysed to assess differences in sociodemographic profiles and rates of common comorbidities between two groups of respondents: CM (ICHD-2 defined migraine; ≥15 days of headache per month) and EM (ICHD-2 defined migraine; 0–14 days of headache per month). Categories of comorbid conditions included psychiatric, respiratory, cardiovascular, pain and ‘other’ such as obesity and diabetes. Results Of 24 000 headache sufferers surveyed in 2005, 655 respondents had CM, and 11 249 respondents had EM. Compared with EM, respondents with CM had stastically significant lower levels of household income, were less likely to be employed full time and were more likely to be occupationally disabled. Those with CM were approximately twice as likely to have depression, anxiety and chronic pain. Respiratory disorders including asthma, bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cardiac risk factors including hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and obesity, were also significantly more likely to be reported by those with CM. Discussion Sociodemographic and comorbidity profiles of the CM population differ from the EM population on multiple dimensions, suggesting that CM and EM differ in important ways other than headache frequency.
The potential impact of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome on migraine headache characteristics - BMC NeurologyBackground & objectives Studying comorbidities with migraine aids in a better understanding of its pathophysiology and potential therapeutic targets. This case-control study aimed to study the impact of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome on the characteristics of migraine headache attacks. Methods A case-control study was conducted on 30 migraine patients and 30 healthy controls. The following data were assessed in migraine patients: type of migraine, duration of attacks, Migraine Severity Scale (MIGSEV), and Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6). Both groups were assessed for waist circumference and underwent the following tests: fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, and triglycerides, and homeostasis model assessment–insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was applied. Results This study included age and sex-matched patients and controls. Migraine patients had significantly higher waist circumference, higher mean values of serum insulin, HOMA-IR and higher frequency of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome than the control group (P-value = 0.005, 0.049, 0.01, 0.012, 0.024, respectively). Migraine patients with insulin resistance had significantly higher intensity and tolerability scores, MIGSEV total score, and HIT-6 total score compared to those without (P-value = 0.005, 0.005, 0.002, 0.018, respectively). There was a significantly positive correlation between the MIGSEV and HIT-6 scores and fasting insulin levels, and HOMA-IR value (P-value = 0.006, ≤ 0.001, 0.017, ≤ 0.001, respectively). Conclusion Insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome are more common in migraine patients than in healthy controls. The severity and impact of migraine attacks are higher in patients with insulin resistance than in those without.
Metabolic Aspects of Migraine: Association With Obesity and Diabetes MellitusMigraine is a disabling neurovascular disorder, characterized by moderate to severe unilateral headaches, nausea, photophobia, and/or phonophobia, with a higher prevalence in women than in men, which can drastically affect the quality of life of migraine patients. In addition, this chronic disorder is related with metabolic comorbidities associated with the patient's lifestyle, including obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM). Beyond the personal and socioeconomic impact caused by migraine, obesity and DM, it has been suggested that these metabolic disorders seem to be related to migraine since: (i) they are a risk factor for developing cardiovascular disorders or chronic diseases; (ii) they can be influenced by genetic and environmental risk factors; and (iii) while clinical and epidemiological studies suggest that obesity is a risk factor for migraine, DM (i.e., type 1 and type 2 DM) have been reported to be either a protective or a risk factor in migraine. On this basis, and given the high worldwide prevalence of migraine, obesity, and DM, this article provides a narrative review of the current literature related to the association between the etiology and pathophysiology of migraine and these metabolic disorders, considering lifestyle aspects, as well as the possible involvement of neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, and/or sex hormones. While a link between migraine and metabolic disorders has been suggested, many studies are contradictory and the mechanisms involved in thi...
Association Between Obesity and Migraine in Women - Current Pain and Headache ReportsPurpose of Review Migraine is a common and highly disabling condition that is particularly prevalent among women and especially women of reproductive age. The tremendous rise in adiposity in the Western world has led to an epidemic of obesity in women. The particular effects of obesity on women with migraine of various ages are the focus of this review. Recent Findings Conflicting findings from various studies with different approaches and populations have made challenging definitive conclusions about associations between migraine and obesity. While the association between obesity and migraine frequency has been consistently demonstrated and obesity is considered a risk factor for progression from episodic to chronic migraine, the association between obesity and migraine prevalence is still somewhat debated and appears to be dependent on gender and age, with the most consistent effects observed in women younger than 55 years of age. Summary Association between migraine and obesity is most commonly observed in women of reproductive age. The multimodal changes associated with age and hormonal change in women likely play a role in this relationship, as obesity does not appear to be related to migraine in women over 55 years of age. Future studies focusing on the migraine-obesity relationship in women should examine the effects of age, endogenous hormonal state, and exogenous hormones on migraine and obesity.
Bariatric Surgery Promising in Migraine Control: a Controlled Trial on Weight Loss and Its Effect on Migraine Headache - Obesity SurgeryIntroduction There is evidence that substantial weight loss through bariatric surgery (BS) may result in short-term improvement of migraine severity. However, it still remains to be seen whether smaller amounts of weight loss have a similar effect on migraine headache. This study has been designed to compare the effects of weight reduction through BS and non-surgical modifications. Materials and Methods Migraine characteristics were assessed at 1 month before (T0), 1 month (T1), and 6 months (T2) after BS (vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) (n = 25) or behavioral therapy (BT) (n = 26) in obese women (aged 18–60 years) with migraine headache. Migraine was diagnosed using the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHDIIβ) criteria. Results There was significant reduction in the visual analog scale (VAS) from the baseline to T1 and T2 in both groups. The number of migraine-free days showed a significant increase within each group (p < 0.001). The BS group had a significant reduction in attack duration (p < 0.001) while there were no changes observed within the BT group. Following the adjustment of ANCOVA models for baseline values of migraine characteristics, age, changes in weight, BMI, body fat, and fat-free mass from T0 to T2, the BS group showed statistically significant lower VAS and duration of migraine attacks and a significantly higher number of migraine-free days than the BT group at T1 and T2 (p ≤ 0.028). Conclusion Our results indicated that far before significant weight reduction after BS (VSG), there was marked alleviation in the severity and duration of migraine and a significant increase in the number of migraine-free days in obese female migraineurs. However, the effects in the BT group were not comparable with the effects in the BS group.
Ketosis and migraine: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysisIntroductionHeadaches are a prevalent disorder worldwide, and there is compelling evidence that certain dietary interventions could provide relief from attacks. One promising approach is ketogenic therapy, which replaces the brain's glucose fuel source with ketone bodies, potentially reducing the frequency or severity of headaches.AimThis study aims to conduct a systematic review of the scientific literature on the impact of ketosis on migraine, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method.ResultsAfter a careful selection process and bias evaluation, 10 articles were included in the review, primarily from Italy. The bias assessment indicated that 50% of the selected articles had a low risk of bias in all domains, with the randomization process being the most problematic domain. Unfortunately, the evaluation of ketosis was inconsistent between articles, with some assessing ketonuria, some assessing ketonemia, and some not assessing ketosis levels at all. Therefore, no association could be made between the level of ketosis and the prevention or reduction of migraine attacks. The ketogenic therapies tested in migraine treatments included the very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD, n = 4), modified Atkins diet (MAD, n = 3), classic ketogenic diet (cKDT, n = 2), and the administration of an exogenous source of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB). The meta-analysis, despite reporting high heterogeneity, found that all interventions had an o...
Can Ketogenic Diet Therapy Improve Migraine Frequency, Severity and Duration?Migraine is the third most common condition worldwide and is responsible for a major clinical and economic burden. The current pilot trial investigated whether ketogenic diet therapy (KDT) is superior to an evidence-informed healthy “anti-headache” dietary pattern (AHD) in improving migraine frequency, severity and duration. A 12-week randomised controlled crossover trial consisting of the two dietary intervention periods was undertaken. Eligible participants were those with a history of migraines and who had regularly experienced episodes of moderate or mildly intense headache in the previous 4 weeks. Migraine frequency, duration and severity were assessed via self-report in the Migraine Buddy© app. Participants were asked to measure urinary ketones and side effects throughout the KDT. Twenty-six participants were enrolled, and 16 participants completed all sessions. Eleven participants completed a symptom checklist; all reported side-effects during KDT, with the most frequently reported side effect being fatigue (n = 11). All completers experienced migraine during AHD, with 14/16 experiencing migraine during KDT. Differences in migraine frequency, severity or duration between dietary intervention groups were not statistically significant. However, a clinically important trend toward lower migraine duration on KDT was noted. Further research in this area is warranted, with strategies to lower participant burden and promote adherence and retention.