Headache, GI symptoms and Intestinal Permeability in Obese Adults

Limited evidence exists concerning the role of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and intestinal barrier function as contributors to headache occurrence. Therefore, the objective of this study was to explore the relationships between headaches, GI symptoms, and gut barrier function in a largely female sample (n=69) of obese (BMI, 37.6 ± 6.3 kg/m2, mean ± SD) adults, aged 45 ± 11 years. In this cross-sectional study, 24-hr urine collected after a sugar challenge was analyzed for sucralose and lactulose concentrations using gas chromatography. 24-hr sucralose (% oral dose) and the ratio of 24-hr sucralose/lactulose (24-hr S/L) were used as markers of intestinal permeability (IP) (median IQR; 24-hr sucralose, 0.23 [0.32, 1.2] and 24-hr S/L, 0.23 [0.12, 0.39]). Participants completed a 15-item headache symptom questionnaire and a clinical GI symptom questionnaire in which each symptom was rated on a 10-point scale. Thirty-nine percent of participants reported trouble with headaches (89% were women). Mann Whitney...