Phyto-oestrogens in the Prophylaxis of Menstrual Migraine

BACKGROUND: Falling levels of estrogen is the major provocative factor in migraine associated with menstruation. OBJECTIVE: We assessed the efficacy of the combination of two phyto-oestrogens, as perimenstrual, prophylactic treatment of menstrual migraine and tested their effect on cerebral haemodynamic. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Women with a history of menstrual migraine (i.e., attacks occurring exclusively on day 1+/-2 days of menstruation and at no other time of the cycle) were included in the study. Eleven women fulfilling the inclusion criteria underwent to a 3-month cyclic treatment with 56 mg of genisteine and 20 mg of diadzeine per day. Transcranial doppler evaluation (TCD) was performed at baseline and after treatment. RESULTS: Among the ten women who completed the study the average number of days with migraine during the baseline period decreased significantly after 3 months of therapy (P < 0.005). There were no major side-effects. Therapy did not affect cerebral blood flow velocities. CONCLUSIONS: Phyto-oestrogens appear to be an effective treatment in menstrual migraine prophylaxis. This effect seems to be unrelated to cerebral hemodynamic. Placebo-controlled trials on larger number of patients are necessary to confirm our findings.