Many migraine sufferers have gastro-intestinal problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, sensitivity to gluten, dairy, and other types of foods. Nausea and vomiting and gastric stasis are common symptoms of migraine. All this indicates a close relationship between the gut and migraines. Considering that we contain more bacterial cells than our own (you may want to read a fascinating book by Ed Yong, I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life), it is not surprising that certain types of bacteria may help prevent migraines.
Bio-Kult is a probiotic that contains 14 different strains of bacteria. It was tested for the prevention of migraine headaches in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial. I mentioned the preliminary results of this study presented in 2017 at the International Headache Congress, but the final results were only recently published in Cephalalgia. The researchers enrolled 100 patients and placed 50 of them into the placebo group and 50 into the probiotic group. 43 patients on the active therapy and 36 on placebo completed the trial. Patients with both chronic and episodic migraines (15 or more headache days a month makes it chronic) were included.
After 2 month of treatment, the mean frequency of migraine attacks and their severity were significantly reduced in the probiotic group compared to the placebo group. There was also a significant reduction of the number of abortive migraine medications taken by those in the probiotic group.
This was a small study with a high dropout rate, which means that it is far from proven that this type of probiotic is effective in treating migraine headaches. However, considering the safety of this product and its reasonable cost ($21 for a month supply on Amazon.com), it is worth a try after or in addition to more proven supplements such as magnesium and CoQ10.
Although the study was conducted in Iran, Bio-Kult is manufactured in the UK, which assures good quality. It has received “The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise”.
