Posted on 07/24/2025 9:46:34 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
A new clinical trial demonstrates that dietary changes significantly reduce persistent post-traumatic headaches (pPTH), a common and debilitating consequence of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Researchers found that increasing omega-3 fatty acids (commonly found in fatty fish like salmon and tuna) while reducing omega-6 fatty acids (abundant in seed oils such as corn, sunflower, and cottonseed oils) led to fewer and less severe headaches.
The randomized trial involved 122 military health care beneficiaries suffering from chronic headaches following TBI. In addition to their current headache treatments, patients were asked to adhere to one of two diets for 12 weeks: a control diet with average U.S. amounts of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, or an intervention diet that increased omega-3 and decreased omega-6 fatty acids.
Participants were provided with most of their daily food intake for the duration of the trial.
Participants assigned to the intervention diet experienced approximately two fewer headache days per month and a 30% reduction in daily headache pain intensity compared to the control diet group. Blood analyses confirmed that the diet increased levels of anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing omega-3 derivatives.
"This study is particularly exciting because it suggests that dietary interventions can stabilize neuroinflammatory processes triggered by brain injury," said Daisy Zamora, Ph.D.
Persistent post-traumatic headaches affect more than 40% of individuals after TBI, including many military service members. Despite its prevalence, there are currently no FDA-approved treatments for pPTH. These findings suggest that targeted dietary strategies may offer a safe and accessible way to manage pain, and might even improve the results of traditional pain treatments when used together.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
“Participants assigned to the intervention diet experienced approximately two fewer headache days per month and a 30% reduction in daily headache pain intensity compared to the control diet group. Blood analyses confirmed that the diet increased levels of anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing omega-3 derivatives.”
Thanks for posting this. I’m desperate. I’ll try anything.
My brain injury is 50 years old! Auto accident (passenger), fractured skull, dislocated everything, crushed pelvis that they didn’t pin because they were sure the head injury would kill me.
The doctor on call was Mario Campagna, the doctor they called to treat Bobby Kennedy. He told me if I didn’t take physical therapy, when I was old I would have hell to pay... indeed!
I covered up a lot of deficits in those years.. it’s easier when you are young, cute and funny. Everyone just laughed off the clumsiness etc.
The headaches! Not as intense as they once were, now they are constant. I can’t take pain meds. I yell. A lot.
BTW.. they said I would never be able to work again... I supported my family, and a couple more and never took a cent from this government... until the Almeda fire took everything... and I paid back every dime plus thousands in interest.
But I am happy today after finally getting a bad tooth pulled... I’ve developed Thrombocytopenia.. platelets really low, so I put it off as long as I could!
I’m hoping that was causing some of the headaches.
I would try 10 grams or more creatine daily. See Dr Rhonda Patrick you tube on this. Also one gram daily of Benfotiamine daily in 3 divided doses. Daily walking too for balance.
Go to your AI and ask questions about Benfotiamine and creatine for your brain and body. Perplexity or Grok3 are good.
Who would have thought that eating Industrial Lubricants (seed oils) would give people headaches...
Good information. I believe one mechanism for this may be that Omega 6 causes inflammation and Omega 3 reduces inflammation.
Just one thing I always point out - well 2.
Mass produced eggs are full of Omega 6 from the corn and soy feed laying hens are fed. Eggland at least recognizes this and boosts Omega 6 in their eggs.
Free range eggs are much better, and hens not fed soy or corn at all are best. But unless you grow your chickens how would you know? I think the color gives away the better omega 6 content.
Another rabbit hole is Folic Acid. It is in everything. Limits for adults are 400 micrograms per day. Excess Folic Acid causes all kinds of trouble including headaches. If you are my FB friend I wrote about this the other day.
Anyway, yeah, watch your eggs and folic acid intake.
Thanks :)
Wow. More revelations from supposed 'smart people'.../s
I'll save the derisive commentary on O3 in fish claims, particularly tuna.
“Folic Acid causes all kinds of trouble including headaches.”
Yes. Folate is the proper supplement, right?
Surgery relieved a ton of pressure and blood, and ct scans revealed a steady shrinking of the hematoma.
Hardly a headache post procedure, as I have been taking fairly high doses of fish oil and other antioxidants for years.
As an aside, Joseph Mercola, who gets many, maybe most things absolutely wrong (starting, but not ending with foolish and nonscientific vaccine bashing) does get one thing right. Seed oils (specifically those containing the omega-6 linoleic acid) are an endocrine disrupter, an inflammation promoter, promote insulin resistance, and have a very long residence time in your bod (t1/2 = 2yr).
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