Effects of Dietary Protein-Tryptophan Restriction Upon 5-HT Uptake by Platelets and Clinical Symptoms in Migraine-Like Headache

Abstract

Ten women with recurrent migraine-like headache, flush, urticaria and itching excoriations were put on a protein/tryptophan reduced diet. The 5–HT uptake kinetics in platelets, the frequency of headache attacks and skin symptoms were recorded. On customary food the 5–HT uptake kinetics were severely disturbed. On diet, the platelet 5–HT uptake was normalized and, in parallel, the migraine-like symptoms and skin manifestations were reduced. The parallel between the improvement in active 5–HT uptake by platelets and clinical symptoms during dietary protein/tryptophan restriction supports the idea that impairment of the 5–HT uptake in platelets is a contributory factor in the pathogenesis of migraine-like headache and other 5–HT related symptoms.