Migraines are a pain in the head and in the hip pocket, but newly discovered genetic causes by QUT researchers could lead the way to new preventative drugs and therapies.
Genetic analyses findings were published in The American Journal of Human Genetics by Professor Dale Nyholt and his Ph.D. candidates Hamzeh Tanha and Anita Sathyanarayanan, all from the QUT Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health.
Professor Nyholt said the team identified causal genetic links to three blood metabolite levels that increase migraine risk:
Lower levels of DHA, an omega-3 known to reduce inflammation
Higher levels of LPE(20:4), a chemical that blocks an anti-inflammatory molecule
Lower levels of a third, currently uncharacterised metabolite, named X–11315.
Professor Nyholt said these genetic links could now be targeted by future research and clinical trials to develop and test compounds that influenced metabolite levels and prevented migraine.
Metabolites are substances made or used when the body breaks down food, drugs, or chemicals during metabolism.
“Variations in blood levels of metabolites can be due to diet, lifestyle, and genetics, but they are easy to measure and may be modified using diet planning and supplementation,” Professor Nyholt said….
Medical Xpress, (2022, October 13),Migraines caused by alterations in metabolite levels
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-10-migraines-metabolite.html