Migraine Trigger: Nitrites
Foods with nitrites/nitrates (the terms are used interchangeably) are common migraine triggers (WebMD).
Eight reasons why nitrates trigger migraines:
1. Nitrates Increase Nitric Oxide
Nitrites/nitrates raise levels of nitric oxide.
High levels of nitric oxide are associated with migraines (study link).
2. Nitric Oxide Drugs (Viagra) are Migraine Triggers
Medications that increase nitric oxide levels are migraine triggers.
Viagra works by raising nitric oxide levels and induces migraine in 10 out of 12 migraine patients (study link).
3. Foods with Nitrites Trigger Migraines
A number of studies report that foods with high levels of nitrites are migraine triggers (study 1, 2, 3).
4. Nitric Oxide Releases CGRP, a Migraine Trigger
Nitric oxide increases a peptide (CGRP) that is considered responsible for triggering migraines (study link).
The next generation migraine drug blocks this peptide and studies are showing that it’s more successful than any migraine medication to date (study link).
5. Increased Oxidative Stress
In sensitive individuals, nitrates may increase oxidative stress (study 1, 2, 3).
Oxidative stress is the largest migraine trigger.
Dietary nitrates were identified as a migraine trigger in a 2016 review of oxidative stress and migraines (study link).
6. Nitrites can Form Nitrosamines, a Carcinogen
Nitrites and biogenic amines (another migraine trigger) in food can form nitrosamines (study link).
Nitrosamine is a carcinogen that impairs a gene (MTHFR) that already does not function well in migraine sufferers (study link).
Nitrosamines also trigger oxidative stress, the largest migraine trigger (study link).
7. Nitrates Hurt the Gut
Nitrates can aggravate irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
IBS is five times more likely in migraine patients (study 1, 2).
IBS and migraine patients benefit from the same diets that eliminate nitrate heavy foods (study 1, 2).
8. Nitrates Could Cause Insulin Resistance in the Brain
Nitrosamines can induce insulin resistance in the brain and cause dementia in lab rats (study link).
Doctor Suzanne De La Monte named this possible cause of Alzheimer’s disease, “type 3 diabetes.”
Amyloid plaque causes brain lesions in people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease that is similar to the brain lesions found in migraine sufferers (study link).
One study found that having migraines more than tripled the risk for Alzheimer’s disease (study link).
Dr. De La Monte believes that the nitrites and nitrates in our food supply could be to blame for all major diseases related to insulin resistance.
Update: A new study found that migraineurs have more bacteria capable of converting nitrates into nitric oxide. Nitric oxide increases CGRP and triggers migraines.
It’s unknown if this is the cause or effect of migraines (study 1, 2).
Vegetables are Safe
Vegetables contain far more nitrates than meats.
However, according to the European Food Safety Authority, vegetables contain vitamins and nutrients that inhibit the formation of nitrosamines and outweigh the nitrate and nitric oxide (research link).
Nitrosamines are carcinogens that make processed meats with nitrates a real concern. It’s possible that nitric oxide only becomes a problem for migraine sufferers from processed meat because it can increase nitrosamines and oxidative stress levels. Vegetables, on the other hand, are associated with reduced toxins and oxidative stress levels.
This may be why vegetables are never on the list of nitrate migraine triggers.
Processed Meats are Not Safe
Dr. De La Monte is not alone in believing that processed meats are dangerous.
The World Health Organization has classified processed meat as a group 1 carcinogen, something that causes cancer in humans.
Twenty-two experts reviewed more than 800 studies and found that processed meats increase the risk of bowel cancer (Harvard link).
Processed Meats to Avoid
Migraine sufferers should avoid foods that may cause gut problems of any kind (article link).
Processed meats are treated with preservatives or flavorings. This may include salting, curing, fermenting, and smoking the meat.
Common nitrate migraine triggers are processed meats such as hot dogs, sausage, bacon, salami, aged meats, and lunchmeats.
Aged meats, such as salami, are particularly dangerous for migraine sufferers because they contain high levels of biogenic amines.
Biogenic amines can combine to break the headache threshold.
Avoid meats with nitrates to avoid migraines.
