Low-Glycemic-Index Diet Relieving Migraine but Inducing Muscle Cramps

Abstract

Low-glycemic-index diet (LGID) has been shown to exhibit a beneficial effect in patients with epilepsy, exercise-induced dyskinesia, writer's cramp, migraine, and in myopathic mice. A 57-year-old female with classical migraine with and without aura since 14 years of age and a frequency of 8 to 12 attacks per month experienced some relief using a nasal spray of zolmitriptan since 10 years. Occasionally, she developed a status migrainosus lasting up to 5 days. At the age of 57 years, she started an LGID and recognized a significant decline of frequency and intensity of her migraine attacks but also of other abnormalities shortly after starting the diet. After 8 weeks on the LGID muscle cramps of the left calve, which radiated to the thighs, buttocks, and from there to the right leg, accompanied by fasciculations developed. The slight modification of the LGID, naproxen, and novaminsulfon relieved the cramps. LGID may have a beneficial effect on classical migraine but may induce muscle cramps, which require modification of the LGID.