Impact of Mediterranean Diet-Based Nutrition Education on Migraine Disability in Adolescents: A Pilot…

StudyPediatric neurology· Jul 2026

Impact of Mediterranean Diet-Based Nutrition Education on Migraine Disability in Adolescents: A Pilot Interventional Study.

Merve Samancı, Pınar Sökülmez Kaya, Ayşe Aksoy, Gökçen Öz Tunçer

HeadacheStudyTreatmentQ2IF 2.1

Mediterranean diet nutrition education linked to 45% lower migraine disability in adolescents

Impact of Mediterranean Diet-Based Nutrition Education on Migraine Disability in Adolescents: A Pilot Interventional Study.

Merve Samancı … Gökçen Öz Tunçer

Pediatric neurology · Jul 2026 · Q2 in Neurology

Background

While the Mediterranean diet shows promise in headache management, research on dietary interventions for pediatric patients remains scarce.

Purpose

This study evaluated the impact of a Mediterranean diet-based nutritional education intervention on headache severity, migraine-related disability, and quality of life in children and adolescents.

Methods

Received comprehensive nutritional education emphasizing the Mediterranean diet.

n = 17 pediatric patients

45%

Results

45%

disability dropped sharply, less pain interference with daily life

n = 17 pediatric patients

More results

Postintervention, KIDMED scores significantly increased (P < 0.001).

Crucially, migraine-related disability (PedMIDAS) decreased significantly (P = 0.001), accompanied by a reduction in headache severity (P = 0.024).

Furthermore, significant improvements were observed in quality of life, particularly in physical and psychosocial health domains (P < 0.05).

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

Nutritional education focused on the Mediterranean diet is an effective strategy to improve dietary habits, reduce disability, and enhance quality of life in pediatric headache patients.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate a relationship between KIDMED and PedMIDAS scores, underscoring the clinical potential of dietary interventions in this population.

Impact of Mediterranean Diet-Based Nutrition Education on Migraine Disability in Adolescents: A Pilot Interventional Study.

Impact of Mediterranean Diet-Based Nutrition Education on Migraine Disability in Adolescents: A Pilot Interventional Study.

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