Abstract

Background: Migraine is a “metaboloendocrine disorder” with serotonin dysregulation which lead to painful condition. Aim: The study aims to find the effect of combined supplementation of omega-3, acetylcarnitine, and vitamin E on migraine headache frequency and their effect on different biochemical parameters including serum serotonin level. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 21 migrainous men before and after one month of an intake of the combined supplement during a period free of migraine attacks. The blood samples are used to measure serum serotonin, liver enzymes, lipid profile, serum uric acid, serum bilirubin, serum magnesium, sodium, potassium, and chloride. Results: Migraine men showed higher total serum cholesterol: HDL-c ratio, non-HDL-c, and total serum cholesterol than control men at p-values 0.012, 0.006 and 0.008 respectively. Upon supplement intake, migraine men showed a decrease in the number of headache attacks per month at a p-value of 0.001 with an insignificant decrease in the severity of migraine headaches. Also, total serum cholesterol and HDL-c showed a significant decrease at p-values 0.049 and 0.013 respectively. Conclusion: Combined supplements of acetylcarnitine, omega-3, and vitamin E for one month may decrease migraine headache attacks. That may be related to the decrease in total serum cholesterol or to the possible effect of improving cholesterol transfer from HDL, which may explain the decrease in HDL-c. Other parameters are improved but insignificantly such as magnesium, uric acid and bilirubin.