ReviewNutrients2020
The Ambiguous Role of Caffeine in Migraine Headache: From Trigger to Treatment.
Review in Nutrients, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 48 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
48 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 101 citations in OpenAlex.
- The impact of caffeine consumption on migraine: a systematic review.BMC neurology · 2026Pooled it
- Involvement of adenosine signaling pathway in migraine pathophysiology: a systematic review of preclinical studies.The journal of headache and pain · 2022Pooled it
- Effect of isolated and combined ingestion of caffeine and citrulline malate on resistance exercise and jumping performance: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study.European journal of nutrition · 2023Trial
- Smoking Abstinence Elicits Hyperalgesia: Neural Mechanism, Clinical Implications, and Pharmacological Managements.CNS neuroscience & therapeutics · 2026Review
- Greater Mediterranean Diet Adherence Is Associated with Lower Odds of Chronic Migraine: A Retrospective Observational Study.Nutrients · 2026Observational
- Caffeine and Headache: Exploring the Multifaceted Relationship.Brain and behavior · 2026Review
- Article
- Article
- Caffeine in cerebrovascular research: To withdraw or not to withdraw?Experimental physiology · 2026Article
- A review on gut microbiota and migraine severity: a complex relationship.Inflammopharmacology · 2026Review
- Coffee Consumption is Associated with a High Prevalence of Headache in a Taiwanese Population Study.International journal of medical sciences · 2026Article
- Impact of caffeine consumption on headache severity, sleep quality, and psychiatric symptoms in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension: a cross-sectional study.The journal of headache and pain · 2025Article
- Food in Migraine Management: Dietary Interventions in the Pathophysiology and Prevention of Headaches-A Narrative Review.Nutrients · 2025Review
- Caffeine in Aging Brains: Cognitive Enhancement, Neurodegeneration, and Emerging Concerns About Addiction.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Review
- Caffeine as a Modulator in Oncology: Mechanisms of Action and Potential for Adjuvant Therapy.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
- Review
- Burden of migraine among Egyptian people: prevalence and comorbidities.The journal of headache and pain · 2025Article
- An Assessment of the Dietary Habits of Individuals with Migraine Living in Spain: An Exploratory Observational Cross-Sectional Pilot Study.Nutrients · 2025Observational
- The S-shaped association between dietary caffeine intake and severe headache or migraine: a cross-sectional study based on NHANES.Frontiers in neurology · 2025Article
- Paracetamol and Caffeine Combination in Pain Management: A Narrative Review.Pain research & management · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Migraine is a chronic disorder, and caffeine has been linked with migraine for many years, on the one hand as a trigger, and on the other hand as a cure. As most of the population, including migraineurs, consume a considerable amount of caffeine daily, a question arises as to whether it influences their headaches. Indeed, drinking coffee before a migraine attack may not be a real headache trigger, but a consequence of premonitory symptoms, including yawning, diminished energy levels, and sleepiness that may herald a headache. Here, we aim to summarize the available evidence on the relationship between caffeine and migraines. Articles concerning this topic published up to June 2020 were retrieved by searching clinical databases, and all types of studies were included. We identified 21 studies investigating the prevalence of caffeine/caffeine withdrawal as a migraine trigger and 7 studies evaluating caffeine in acute migraine treatment. Among them, in 17 studies, caffeine/caffeine withdrawal was found to be a migraine trigger in a small percentage of participants (ranging from 2% to 30%), while all treatment studies found caffeine to be safe and effective in acute migraine treatment, mostly in combination with other analgesics. Overall, based on our review of the current literature, there is insufficient evidence to recommend caffeine cessation to all migraine patients, but it should be highlighted that caffeine overuse may lead to migraine chronification, and sudden caffeine withdrawal may trigger migraine attacks. Migraine sufferers should be aware of the amount of caffeine they consume and not exceed 200 mg daily. If they wish to continue drinking caffeinated beverages, they should keep their daily intake as consistent as possible to avoid withdrawal headache.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.