Journal article
Association between liver enzyme levels and prevalence of migraine: the atherosclerosis risk in communities study
Therapeutic advances in neurological disorders, v 18, 17562864251370097
2025
PMID: 40955422
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Cumulative research data indicate that migraine is characterized by a glutamatergic imbalance, particularly an excessive glutamatergic signal. Increases in glutamate levels in the brain and plasma of migraine patients have been reported, but less is known about the association between liver enzymes, such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) that regulate blood glutamate levels and migraine.
We evaluated associations between AST, ALT, and GGT levels across the quartiles and a history of probable/defined migraine in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study cohort.
We included 11,718 participants with measured liver enzyme levels and self-reported data on migraine with and without aura. Multiple logistic regression models were used to assess associations of sex-specific quartiles of liver enzymes with probable/definite migraine.
A total of 1626 probable/definite migraine events were reported in 1993-1995. After adjustment for age, race-center, and sex, higher levels of AST, ALT, and GGT were associated with a lower prevalence of migraine. The adjusted odds ratios (95% CIs) for migraine for Q1 versus Q4 levels of AST, ALT, and GGT were 1.24 (1.06-1.45), 1.17 (1.00-1.37) and 1.21 (1.03-1.41), respectively. Analysis by yes/no aura showed higher odds of migraine without aura for lower (Q1) compared with higher (Q4) levels of ALT (adjusted OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.05-1.82), while no significant association was observed between enzyme levels and prevalence of migraine with aura.
Our findings suggest that higher AST, ALT, and GGT levels are associated with a lower prevalence of migraine. Although the exact mechanisms linking lower blood levels of AST, ALT, and GGT to migraines remain unclear, their association may be explained by inefficient plasma glutamate regulation, which could play a role in migraine pathology. This finding is important for patients as it sheds light on potential metabolic contributions to migraines, supporting the hypothesis that factors beyond traditional neurovascular theories are involved.
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Details
- Title
- Association between liver enzyme levels and prevalence of migraine: the atherosclerosis risk in communities study
- Creators
- Angela Ruban (Corresponding Author) - Tel Aviv UniversityAndrea L C Schneider - University of PennsylvaniaMenglu Liang - Johns Hopkins UniversityRebecca F Gottesman - Johns Hopkins UniversityElizabeth Selvin - Johns Hopkins UniversityJosef Coresh - Johns Hopkins UniversityMariana Lazo - Drexel UniversitySilvia Koton - Tel Aviv University
- Publication Details
- Therapeutic advances in neurological disorders, v 18, 17562864251370097
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Number of pages
- 17
- Grant note
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases: R01DK089174 NIH/NIDDK
The authors thank the staff and participants of the ARIC study for their important contributions. This work was supported by NIH/NIDDK grant R01DK089174 to Dr. Elizabeth Selvin. Reagents for the ALT, AST, and GGT assays were donated by Roche Diagnostics
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Urban Health Collaborative; Community Health and Prevention
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001570411000001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105015843310
- Other Identifier
- 991022097354404721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Clinical Neurology