Migraines affect about 1 in 7 people worldwide and can make life really difficult. Scientists are discovering that the bacteria living in your gut might play a role in causing migraines. This review looked at studies about probiotics (good bacteria), prebiotics (food for good bacteria), and combinations of both to see if they could help reduce migraines. The research suggests these might help by improving gut health and reducing inflammation, but the results are mixed because different types and amounts seem to work differently for different people.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether probiotics, prebiotics, and combinations of both could help reduce how often migraines happen and how bad they are
  • Who participated: This was a review that looked at many different studies about migraine patients, so it didn’t have its own participants
  • Key finding: Probiotics and prebiotics may help reduce migraines by improving gut health and lowering inflammation, but the results depend heavily on which type and how much you take
  • What it means for you: If you get migraines, improving your gut bacteria through probiotics or prebiotics might be worth trying, but talk to your doctor first because what works varies from person to person

The Research Details

This was a narrative review, which means researchers read through many published studies about gut bacteria and migraines to summarize what scientists have learned so far. Instead of doing their own experiment, they looked at what other scientists found and tried to understand the big picture. They focused on studies that tested probiotics (live good bacteria you can eat), prebiotics (special foods that help good bacteria grow), and synbiotics (combinations of both) in people with migraines.

The researchers looked at how these treatments affected migraine frequency (how often they happen) and severity (how bad they are). They also examined how these treatments might work by looking at their effects on gut bacteria balance, inflammation in the body, and the connection between the gut and brain.

Understanding how gut bacteria connects to migraines is important because it opens up a new way to treat them. Instead of just treating the pain, we might be able to prevent migraines by fixing an underlying problem in the gut. This approach could help people who don’t respond well to traditional migraine medicines.

This is a review article, which means it summarizes existing research rather than conducting new experiments. The strength of the conclusions depends on the quality of the studies reviewed. The researchers noted that many studies used different types of bacteria, different amounts, and studied different groups of people, which makes it hard to say definitively whether these treatments work. More carefully designed studies are needed to give clearer answers.

What the Results Show

The research suggests that probiotics may help reduce how often migraines occur and how severe they are. The way they might work is by strengthening the barrier in your gut (which acts like a protective wall), reducing inflammation throughout your body, and improving the balance of bacteria in your digestive system. When your gut bacteria are out of balance, it appears to make migraines worse by increasing inflammation and damaging that protective gut barrier.

Prebiotics, which are types of fiber that feed good bacteria, also show promise in helping with migraine symptoms. By improving the overall health of your gut bacteria community, prebiotics may reduce migraine attacks. Synbiotics, which combine probiotics and prebiotics together, are less studied but early results suggest they might also help reduce migraine symptoms.

However, the results are not consistent across all studies. The effectiveness seems to depend a lot on which specific strain of bacteria is used and how much of it you take. This means that what works for one person might not work for another.

The research also found that people with migraines often have other digestive problems at the same time, like irritable bowel syndrome or constipation. This connection between gut health and migraines suggests they share some common causes. Studies in animals showed that when gut bacteria are out of balance, it can actually trigger migraine-like pain responses in the brain.

This research builds on growing evidence that the gut-brain connection is important for many neurological conditions, not just migraines. Previous research has shown that gut bacteria affect inflammation, stress responses, and brain function. This review adds to that knowledge by specifically looking at how fixing gut bacteria problems might help migraine sufferers.

The biggest limitation is that studies on this topic use many different types of bacteria, different doses, and study different groups of people, making it hard to compare results. There are also very few studies on prebiotics and synbiotics, so we know less about whether they work. Many studies were small and didn’t follow strict scientific standards. The review couldn’t determine the best type of bacteria, the right dose, or which people would benefit most from these treatments.

The Bottom Line

If you suffer from migraines, discussing probiotics with your doctor may be worth considering, though the evidence is still developing (moderate confidence level). Probiotics appear most promising, but you’d need to work with your doctor to find the right type and dose. Prebiotics and synbiotics show potential but need more research before strong recommendations can be made (low confidence level).

People who get frequent migraines should pay attention to this research, especially those who haven’t found relief with traditional treatments. People with both migraines and digestive problems might benefit most. However, this shouldn’t replace your current migraine treatment without talking to your doctor first. Pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, and those taking certain medications should check with their doctor before trying probiotics.

If probiotics do help, you’d likely need to take them consistently for several weeks to a few months before noticing a reduction in migraine frequency or severity. Don’t expect immediate results—gut bacteria changes take time.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track migraine frequency (number of migraines per week), severity (on a scale of 1-10), and duration (how long they last) while noting which probiotic type and dose you’re taking, along with daily digestive symptoms
  • Start taking a specific probiotic supplement daily while maintaining a food diary to track which foods trigger migraines and which support good gut health (like fiber-rich foods for prebiotics)
  • Use the app to log migraines and digestive health weekly for at least 8-12 weeks to see if there’s a pattern of improvement, and share this data with your doctor to evaluate whether the probiotic is actually helping

This review summarizes research about gut bacteria and migraines but is not medical advice. Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics are not proven treatments for migraines and results vary by person. Always talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, nursing, have a weakened immune system, or take medications. This information should not replace your current migraine treatment. If you’re having severe or frequent migraines, seek professional medical care.