Effects of dietary protein-tryptophan restriction upon 5-HT uptake by platelets and clinical symptoms in migraine-like headache.

Ten women with recurrent migraine-like headache, flush, urticaria and itching excoriations were put on a protein/tryptophan reduced diet. The 5-HT uptake kinetics in platelets, the frequency of headache attacks and skin symptoms were recorded. On customary food the 5-HT uptake kinetics were severely disturbed. On diet, the platelet 5-HT uptake was normalized and, in parallel, the migraine-like symptoms and skin manifestations were reduced. The parallel between the improvement in active 5-HT uptake by platelets and clinical symptoms during dietary protein/tryptophan restriction supports the idea that impairment of the 5-HT uptake in platelets is a contributory factor in the pathogenesis of migraine-like headache and other 5-HT related symptoms.