FUNCTIONAL DISABILITY IN MIGRAINE: INFLUENCE OF BODY COMPOSITION AND DNA METHYLATION IN WOMEN WITH AND WITHOUT OVERWEIGHT

Fernando Valentini Fernandes*, Vinícius Claro de Oliveira Filho, Sarah Cristina de Liz, Isadora Fernandes Cônsolo, Renata Dinardi Borges Liboni, Regina Célia Poli-Frederico and Aline Vitali-Silva

ABSTRACT

Migraine is a disabling neurological condition whose pathophysiology involves complex inflammatory mechanisms and may be influenced by metabolic factors such as excess weight and epigenetic alterations. This case-control study aimed to investigate possible associations between body composition, DNA methylation status, and migraine severity in women with and without excess weight. A total of 22 participants were included and evaluated through clinical questionnaires (ID-Migraine and MIDAS), bioelectrical impedance analysis, and methylation assessment via PCR after bisulfite conversion. The mean age was 39.8 years, with higher average values of BMI, body fat percentage, and MIDAS scores in the overweight group. Although statistical tests did not show significant associations between weight, methylation, and functional disability (MIDAS), a trend toward a higher frequency of unmethylation among overweight individuals was observed (p = 0.172), as well as a slight increase in MIDAS scores with rising BMI and body fat percentage. The correlation between BMI and body fat was positive (ρ = 0.949; p < 0.0001). These findings suggest a potential modulatory role of adiposity on epigenetic mechanisms related to migraine, although limited by the small sample size. It is concluded that the interaction between obesity, methylation, and migraine warrants further investigation in future studies with greater statistical power and control for confounding variables.

Keywords: Migraine; Obesity; DNA Methylation; Epigenetics; Body Composition; Inflammation.