Veterans suffering from Gulf War Illness reported significant improvement in migraine symptoms after adopting a low-glutamate diet, according to recent research by scientists from Georgetown University and American University. This groundbreaking study, presented on November 16, 2023, during the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in San Diego, also revealed measurable changes in brain structure associated with the dietary intervention.
The study provides compelling evidence that the low-glutamate diet, which restricts a common flavor-enhancing additive found in processed foods, could represent a viable treatment for veterans grappling with chronic neurological symptoms stemming from their service during the 1990–1991 Gulf War.
Understanding Gulf War Illness and Glutamate
Gulf War Illness is a chronic condition that affects over a quarter of veterans who served in the conflict. Symptoms can be debilitating and include musculoskeletal pain, gastrointestinal distress, and neurological issues such as migraines. Research suggests that exposure to neurotoxic chemicals during the war may contribute to the development of this condition.
Glutamate is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, playing a significant role in pain perception. High levels of glutamate are found in many processed foods, while it also occurs naturally in items like tomatoes and mushrooms. The collaboration between researchers, including Ashley VanMeter, Ph.D., a professor of neurology at Georgetown, and Kathleen Holton, Ph.D., MPH, a nutritional neuroscientist at American University, led to the formulation of this low-glutamate diet as a potential management strategy for neurological conditions.
Key Findings and Implications
The research began with brain scans comparing cortical thickness between veterans with Gulf War Illness and a healthy control group. The findings revealed that veterans had a significantly thicker right visual cortex, correlating with higher migraine incidents. Following the implementation of the low-glutamate diet over one month, scans demonstrated a notable reduction in cortical thickness and a substantial decrease in migraines.
According to VanMeter, “More than half of the Gulf War veterans had migraines before the diet, and that dropped to under 20% after following the diet for one month. So it was a very significant drop.” The study indicated that other symptoms, including widespread pain, fatigue, mood disturbances, and cognitive dysfunction, also improved among participants adhering to the diet.
Dr. Holton elaborated on the findings, suggesting that glutamate may exacerbate Gulf War Illness symptoms through mechanisms such as excitotoxicity, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress. She stated, “We think this is one of the reasons people who are susceptible to dietary glutamate tend to have prolonged symptoms over time.”
The ongoing multi-site clinical trial aims to confirm these findings further and explore the broader applicability of the low-glutamate diet for migraine sufferers outside the veteran community.
The study’s implications extend beyond Gulf War veterans, as the thickening of the visual cortex is commonly observed in many migraine sufferers, particularly those who experience visual disturbances. VanMeter expressed optimism about the potential for the diet to serve as a cost-effective alternative to traditional migraine medications, stating, “This is a very doable diet. It’s a healthy diet, it’s not that hard to follow, and it’s a very low-cost way of treating what for some individuals is a chronic and debilitating condition.”
Dr. Holton emphasized the growing evidence regarding the health impacts of ultra-processed foods, noting, “This speaks to the fact that diet can not only make us sick but can also acutely treat our symptoms.”
As researchers continue to investigate the role of dietary factors on health, follow-up studies will delve deeper into the mechanisms at play, including potential effects on the blood-brain barrier and glutamate sensitivity. The findings from this research not only provide hope for veterans but also contribute to a broader understanding of how diet can influence neurological health and well-being.
