THE SYNERGISTIC EFFECTS OF Ω-3 FATTY ACIDS AND NANO-CURCUMIN SUPPLEMENTATION ON TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR (TNF)-Α GENE EXPRESSION AND SERUM LEVEL IN MIGRAINE PATIENTS

Background and Aim: in migraine pathogenesis, TNF-α increase prostanoid production, hyperexcitability of neurons, and nociceptor activation resulted in neuroinflammation and neurogenic pain. ω-3 fatty acids and curcumin exert neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects via several mechanisms including suppression of TNF-α gene expression and its serum levels. The aim of this study is an evaluation of synergistic effects of ω-3 fatty acids and nano-curcumin on TNF-α gene expression and serum levels in migraine patients. Methods: The present study performed as a clinical trial over a 2 month period included 74 episodic migraine patients in 4 groups and received ω-3 fatty acids, nano-curcumin, and combination of them or placebo. At the start and the end of the study, the gene expression of TNF-α and TNF-α serum levels was measured by real-time PCR and ELISA method, respectively.Results: Our results showed that the combination of ω-3 fatty acids and nano-curcumin downregulated TNF-α messenger RNA (mRNA) significantly in a synergistic manner (P < 0.05). As relative to gene expression, a significant greater reduction in serum levels of TNF-α were observed in the combination group, but no significant differences in other groups. Supplementation with ω-3 fatty acids or nano-curcumin alone did not show significant reduction either in mRNA or serum levels of TNF-α. In addition, a much greater reduction in attack frequency was found in the combination group (P < 0.001).Conclusion: These findings indicated that ω-3 fatty acids and curcumin supplementation can be considered as a new promising approach in migraine management.

کلیدواژه ها:

Curcumin ، Gene expression ، Migraine ، TNF-α ، ω-3 fatty acids