Testing a Low-Glutamate Diet for Adults with Migraine
Tests whether a low-glutamate diet can ease migraine symptoms in adults with migraine.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Dietary Intervention for Migraine Relief
Key facts
- Where
- Washington D.C., United StatesSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 75 years old?
Source: NCT07360405, who can take part
Where in United States
- American UniversityWashington D.C., United StatesTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- American University
- Trial code
- NCT07360405
- Record updated
- 30 October 2026
- Original description
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a low-glutamate diet can improve migraine symptoms in adults with migraine and to explore possible biological changes associated with dietary improvement. The study focuses on whether reducing dietary glutamate intake may influence processes involved in migraine, such as brain excitation, inflammation, and oxidative stress.Read full original descriptionShow less
Diet-Based Treatment for Migraine Relief
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a low-glutamate diet can improve migraine symptoms in adults with migraine and to explore possible biological changes associated with dietary improvement. The study focuses on whether reducing dietary glutamate intake may influence processes involved in migraine, such as brain excitation, inflammation, and oxidative stress.
The main questions this study aims to answer are:
Does following a low-glutamate diet reduce the number of migraine days and the severity and duration of migraine attacks, and improve quality of life?
Are improvements in migraine symptoms associated with changes in blood-based biological markers related to migraine activity?
Researchers will compare participants assigned to the low-glutamate diet with participants assigned to a wait-list control group to evaluate differences in migraine outcomes and related biological measures.
Participants will:
Complete a baseline run-in period while tracking headaches using a daily migraine diary
Either follow a low-glutamate dietary intervention or continue their usual diet as part of a wait-list control
Complete standardized questionnaires related to migraine symptoms and quality of life
Provide blood samples for laboratory analyses
Undergo neuroimaging assessments (for a subset of participants)
Inclusion: Men and women of all races and ethnicities; Age 18-75 years; Documented diagnosis of chronic or episodic migraine for at least 6 months, based on International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD-III) criteria, defined as:; 8 headache days per month, and; 4 migraine days per month; Migraine onset before age 50; On a stable medication regimen for at least 1 month prior to enrollment; Willing to maintain stable medications throughout the study; Willing to discontinue supplements during the study period; Women of childbearing potential must be willing to use birth control during the study timeframe.
Exclusion: Current use of medications affecting glutamatergic or gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) neurotransmission (unless discontinued under physician guidance); Current use of quarterly injectable migraine preventive medications; Substance use disorder within the past year; Diagnosed seizure disorder; Current pregnancy, plans to become pregnant during the study timeframe, or current breastfeeding; Unwillingness to modify dietary intake or to stop alcohol and marijuana use during the study; Severe asthma requiring past hospitalization.