Abstract
BACKGROUND: The current study was conducted to assess the effect of grape seed extract (GSE) supplementation on inflammatory biomarkers, oxidative stress, clinical symptoms, and quality of life in migraine patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized double-blinded controlled clinical trial, 50 patients with migraine were randomly allocated to receive either 200 mg/day GSE supplement (n = 25) or placebo (n = 25) for 8 weeks. Severity, frequency and duration of migraine attacks, headache daily result (HDR), quality of life, migraine disability, mental health, anthropometric indices, blood pressure, and serum levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), vascular cell adhesion molecules-1, total antioxidant capacity, and malondialdehyde were measured at baseline and end of the trial. RESULTS: Based on the within-group comparison, patients in the GSE group had a significant reduction in severity, frequency and duration of migraine attacks, HDR, migraine disability, systolic blood pressure, and serum levels of CGRP. GSE group also had better scores in the migraine-specific quality of life questionnaire and mental health questionnaire. When we performed the analysis using the univariate analysis of variance, the effect of GSE on serum CGRP levels (-0.07 ± 0.03 in the GSE group vs. 0.07 ± 0.03 in the placebo group, P = 0.003) remained significant. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence supporting the beneficial effects of GSE supplement on the serum levels of CGRP. TRIAL REGISTRATION: IRCT20121216011763N56.