Impact of Mediterranean Diet-Based Nutrition Education on Migraine Disability in Adolescents: A Pilot Interventional Study.

BACKGROUND

While the Mediterranean diet shows promise in headache management, research on dietary interventions for pediatric patients remains scarce. This study evaluated the impact of a Mediterranean diet-based nutritional education intervention on headache severity, migraine-related disability, and quality of life in children and adolescents.

METHODS

In this 3-month, single-arm intervention study, 17 pediatric patients with primary headache were recruited from a Pediatric Neurology Outpatient Clinic (November 2022 - April 2023). Participants received comprehensive nutritional education emphasizing the Mediterranean diet. Outcomes were assessed preintervention and postintervention using the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED; dietary adherence), Pediatric Migraine Disability Assessment (PedMIDAS; disability), and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (quality of life) scales, alongside anthropometric and headache severity measurements.

RESULTS

Postintervention, KIDMED scores significantly increased (P < 0.001). Notably, migraine disability scores decreased by approximately 45% (P = 0.001), and headache severity declined (P = 0.024), independent of significant changes in body mass index. Crucially, migraine-related disability (PedMIDAS) decreased significantly (P = 0.001), accompanied by a reduction in headache severity (P = 0.024). Furthermore, significant improvements were observed in quality of life, particularly in physical and psychosocial health domains (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Nutritional education focused on the Mediterranean diet is an effective strategy to improve dietary habits, reduce disability, and enhance quality of life in pediatric headache patients. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate a relationship between KIDMED and PedMIDAS scores, underscoring the clinical potential of dietary interventions in this population.