Changes in Serum Amino Acids in Migraine Patients without and with Aura and their Possible Usefulness in the Study of Migraine Pathogenesis

Background: Results of several studies suggest that serum amino acids monitoring in migraine might be useful as an objective measurement of the disease status. Objective: The aim of the present work was to analyze the profile of aliphatic and aromatic amino acids in blood serum of migraine patients without and with aura between attacks. Methods: A total number of 37 migraine patients (26 with migraine without aura and 11 with migraine with aura), mean age 39±12 years, and 40 age-matched healthy subjects as the control group, mean age 38±14 years, were included into the study. The levels of glutamic acid, glutamine, histidine (His), valine (Val), isoleucine, leucine (Leu), phenyloalanine, lysine were evaluated. Results: The level of His was significantly higher in both groups of migraine patients (without and with aura) compared to the control group (F(2,74)=10.17, p=0.00). The levels of Val and Leu were significantly different in migraine without but not with aura, when compared with the control group (F(2,74)=4.70, p=0.01 and F(2,74)=4.39, p=0.02, respectively). Conclusion: We found higher level of His in migraine patients without and with aura and lower level of Val and Leu in patients with migraine without aura.