Flaxseed Consumption Linked to Improvement in Migraine-Related Outcomes: Study
Researchers have found in a new study that daily flaxseed consumption for 8 weeks may reduce headache severity and improve sleep quality and overall quality of life in patients with migraine. Further studies are needed to confirm these benefits and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. The study was published in The Journal of Nutrition by Jafarpour A. and colleagues.
Migraine is a significant and disabling neurological condition with rising connections to neuroinflammation. The medicinal properties and health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids are widely recognized for their anti-inflammatory effects, and flaxseed is a natural and rich source that can be converted into long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. Although there is rising interest in nutritional modality development for migraine management, there is insufficient evidence for nutritional therapies.
This RCT was conducted on 68 patients suffering from migraines. Patients were randomly allocated to receive either 20 grams/day of flaxseeds or 20 grams/day of roasted wheat powder for a period of 8 weeks. The main outcomes were the frequency, duration, and severity of headaches. Other secondary outcomes measured were depression, anxiety, stress, quality of life, sleep, body weight, and blood pressure. Statistical analysis was carried out using the SPSS software package. Intention-to-treat as well as per-protocol analysis was performed.
Key findings
At the end of 8 weeks, patients in the flaxseed group showed significantly greater improvements compared with controls.
Headache severity decreased by −5.0 ± 2.2 in the flaxseed group versus −1.0 ± 1.9 in the control group (P<0.001).
Headache impact score, reflecting quality of life, improved by −15.7 ± 11.0 compared with −2.3 ± 8.1 in controls (P<0.001).
Sleep quality also improved, with the insomnia severity index decreasing by −4.6 ± 6.5 in the flaxseed group versus −1.6 ± 4.9 in the control group (P=0.029).
Changes in headache frequency, headache duration, psychological measures, weight, and blood pressure were not significantly different between groups.
Per-protocol and intention-to-treat analyses produced identical results, strengthening the robustness of the findings.
This randomized clinical trial showed the efficacy of daily intake of 20 g flaxseed over 8 weeks regarding the reduction in headache severity, improvement in the quality of sleep, and the quality of life in migraine headache sufferers, though the frequency and duration remained unaffected. The results indicate the complementary role of flaxseed supplements in migraine headache. Long-term, large-scale clinical trials are recommended.
Reference:
Jafarpour, A., Ostovan, V. R., & Akhlaghi, M. (2025). Effect of flaxseed supplementation on headache characteristics and quality of life in patients with migraine: a randomized controlled trial. The Journal of nutrition, 101312. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.101312
