The Truth About Chocolate and Migraines

[Manticore]

I've always heard that chocolate was a migraine trigger, so I was surprised when Dr. Audrey Halpern, clinical assistant professor of neurology at New York University School of Medicine, said that it might be safe for the migraine-prone to eat it. Apparently many headache specialists, including Dr. Halpern, believe that chocolate doesn't cause migraines but rather that craving chocolate might simply indicate that a migraine is on it's way.
The Truth About Chocolate and Migraines - Daily Dose - Woman's Day
"Some people have physiological cravings for chocolate anywhere from 4-24 hours before their migraine," she explains. "Because of that association, people often assume that it triggers the attack—but in reality it may be your body attempting to treat a migraine before it even begins. Caffeine, which is present in chocolate, actually gets rid of migraines when used sparingly."

Dr. Halpern doesn't recommend intentionally eating lots of chocolate to prevent an attack, since that could backfire. "You have to find your own sweet spot, if you will. If you're under a lot of stress and not sleeping well, then you may want to decrease or eliminate your chocolate intake for a while," she says. "If you're more prone to headaches during certain phases of your menstrual cycle, avoid large chocolate doses during those times. Try having a few M&M's or a small piece of chocolate to satisfy the craving, rather than overdosing…. and get some sleep."

 

[Levina]

Well a lot things are said and written about chocolates and its cravings.I guess females have more chocolate cravings and it is hormonal.This is the first time i have come across something which relates chocolate cravings to migraines.
And from what I've gleaned darker and less sweeter chocolates are the best.
But then hypoglycaemia or low blood sugar can also trigger migraines and that should be the reason having M&M's reduces the chances of migraine (as it is sweet).JMHO.

@S.U.R.B.

 

[S.U.R.B.]

Well a lot things are said and written about chocolates and its cravings.I guess females have more chocolate cravings and it is hormonal.This is the first time i have come across something which relates chocolate cravings to migraines.
And from what I've gleaned darker and less sweeter chocolates are the best.
But then hypoglycaemia or low blood sugar can also trigger migraines and that should be the reason having M&M's reduces the chances of migraine (as it is sweet).JMHO.

@S.U.R.B.

Yes, you are very right.For me it's dark Chocolate all the way.

One has to develop the taste for it.

 

[Levina]

Yes, you are very right.For me it's dark Chocolate all the way.

One has to develop the taste for it.

Hehehe
And i thought you will tell me more about migraines and chocolates,you're the doc afterall.

 

[S.U.R.B.]

Hehehe
And i thought you will tell me more about migraines and chocolates,you're the doc afterall.

Unfortunately, i've not read any research work on it.
But i have read some work about it's positive effect on the heart's vasculature and hence on the overall working of the cardiovascular system.
Unless it is evidence based and published.(Like the example i've quoted above)

There are many things that we take note of in our practice.But if we prove that with some background data and solid results of it effectiveness then that can change the current form of management and hence the practice of the treating physician.(It sure includes the list of advice they give to their patients)

If i've to talk about it.\/\/\/ Here is how i'll take a start.A pre-appetizer.

In a randomized, double-blind study, eating dark chocolate—acutely and over weeks—not only improved objective measures of endovascular function, it also improved biochemical markers that reflect leukocyte activation, inflammation, and other signs of atherogenesis.
The study further compared normal- vs high-flavanol dark-chocolate consumption by its participants, a few dozen overweight and mildly obese middle-aged male volunteers. It saw few important differences in vascular functional or biochemical effects following ingestion of either formulation of chocolate.

Acute Chocolate Effects

In a double-blind crossover randomization, 29 men consumed 70 g of chocolate on each of two days separated by at least one week. On one occasion, the chocolate contained normal levels of flavanols, and on the other it was supplemented with extra flavanols.

Ingestion of both types of chocolate decreased AIX (indicating decreased central aortic pressure) but didn't affect FMD (reflecting endothelial function). Similarly, hematocrit and counts of thrombocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils went up within two hours. Plasma soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM) 3, interleukin (IL)-1β, and von Willebrand factor levels went up, and plasma IL-6 levels fell two hours after ingestion of both kinds of chocolate. Insulin also went up after both chocolates, but more so after the high-flavanol kind.

The Four-Week Crossover Trial

The same 29 subjects plus an additional 15 participated in a second double-blind experiment in which four weeks of 70 g per day of either high- or low-flavanol chocolate was followed by a four-week washout period and then crossover to four weeks of the other kind of chocolate. They followed certain dietary restrictions to minimize background flavanol intake.

Four weeks of consuming chocolate of either kind elevated fasting FMD by a percentage point and dropped AIX to a similar extent; both measures reverted to baseline after the washout period. The literature suggests a significant 13% reduction in cardiovascular-event risk for every 1% rise in FMD after chocolate consumption, according to the authors.

In a novel finding, four weeks of chocolate consumption significantly lowered counts of circulating leukocytes, suggesting decreased inflammation; also, "leukocytes can transmigrate through the endothelium and therefore play a crucial role in the formation of atherosclerosis."

Chocolate also lowered protein expression of lymphocytes CD62L and CD11b, monocyte CD62L, and neutrophils CD66b and CD11c. "These cell-surface molecules are involved in leukocyte recruitment and adherence to the endothelium during the initial steps of atherosclerosis," the group writes.

"A minor but significant" 0.1-mL rise in fasting plasma glucose and 0.3-mL increase in plasma free fatty acids was evident after four weeks of chocolate of either kind.

Taking the High-Fat Challenge

"High-fat-challenge" tests conducted after each four-week period of chocolate intake required drinking a 95 fat-gram shake of yogurt, canola oil, and other ingredients followed by endothelial-function and metabolic marker tests at 1.5 and 3.0 hours to assess postprandial responses.

Consumption of the high-fat shake was followed by average declines in FMD by 1.8 percentage points, in AIX by four percentage points, and in diastolic blood pressure by 2 mm Hg, regardless of whether the background chocolate contained normal or high flavanol levels. Also seen at postprandial testing were rises in hematocrit; counts of thrombocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils; plasma concentrations of sICAM1, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM) 1, sICAM3, P-selectin, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α); and expression of lymphocytes CD11c and CD11b, monocyte CD11c and CD11b, and neutrophils CD62l and CD11b adhesion molecules. At the same time, monocyte CD62l expression and IL-6 plasma levels fell.

"Our results indicate that flavanol-enriched chocolate was not healthier than regular dark chocolate with respect to vascular health markers," according to Esser et al.

Limits on flavanol absorption didn't account for the similar effects, they determined, based on plasma and urine measures of flavanol intake; normal-flavanol–level chocolate may simply attain maximal flavanol effects on vascular health, the group writes.

There were few more.But let's just keep it restricted to migraine.
While we are talking about it i'm sure the the respected doctor Halpern must be busy in checking out the root cause of such a craving and what it that which is helpful when we take a chunk of dark chocolate.If there is already a scientific evidence presented on it,i'll love to read it.