Evaluation of zonulin levels in patients with migraine
Abstract Background Zonulin regulates permeability in blood–brain and intestinal barriers. The pathophysiology of migraine is based on the effect of neurogenic inflammation. The aim of the current investigation was to examine the serum zonulin level in individuals suffering from migraine. Methods Th...
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2025-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-025-04058-y |
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| author | Gözde Ülfer Burcu Polat Ahmet Yabalak Çağrı Çakıcı |
| author_facet | Gözde Ülfer Burcu Polat Ahmet Yabalak Çağrı Çakıcı |
| author_sort | Gözde Ülfer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Zonulin regulates permeability in blood–brain and intestinal barriers. The pathophysiology of migraine is based on the effect of neurogenic inflammation. The aim of the current investigation was to examine the serum zonulin level in individuals suffering from migraine. Methods The sample comprised 40 individuals who had migraine and 40 controls. Disease duration, attack duration, attack frequency, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, and comorbidities were available for the migraine group. Serum zonulin levels were evaluated by using the ELISA method. Results There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups concerning age or gender (p > 0.05). The zonulin value of patients with migraine was higher when compared to the controls, indicating a significant difference (p = 0.037; p < 0.05). The zonulin level did not correlate with disease duration, attack duration, VAS score, or attack frequency (p > 0.05). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of zonulin revealed a cut-off value of 30.58 and above, at which it had 52.50% sensitivity, 77.5% specificity, 70% positive predictive value, and 62% a negative predictive value. The area under the curve was 63.6%, and the standard error value was 6.3%. The analysis also showed a statistically significant correlation between migraine diagnosis and a zonulin level of 30.58 (p = 0.006; p < 0.01). Conclusions Elevated zonulin levels in patients with migraine support the disruption of the intestinal barrier and neuroinflammation in these patients. The zonulin level may be a predictive biomarker of migraine. Multicenter, randomized trials are needed to evaluate treatments for intestinal permeability and zonulin levels in migraine patients. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-33e47b073a1940789279ce715772d86a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2377 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Neurology |
| spelling | doaj-art-33e47b073a1940789279ce715772d86a2025-02-09T12:43:06ZengBMCBMC Neurology1471-23772025-02-012511710.1186/s12883-025-04058-yEvaluation of zonulin levels in patients with migraineGözde Ülfer0Burcu Polat1Ahmet Yabalak2Çağrı Çakıcı3Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, İstanbul Medipol UniversityDepartment of Neurology, Duzce University Faculty of MedicineDepartment of Neurology, Duzce University Faculty of MedicineFaculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, İstanbul Medipol UniversityAbstract Background Zonulin regulates permeability in blood–brain and intestinal barriers. The pathophysiology of migraine is based on the effect of neurogenic inflammation. The aim of the current investigation was to examine the serum zonulin level in individuals suffering from migraine. Methods The sample comprised 40 individuals who had migraine and 40 controls. Disease duration, attack duration, attack frequency, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, and comorbidities were available for the migraine group. Serum zonulin levels were evaluated by using the ELISA method. Results There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups concerning age or gender (p > 0.05). The zonulin value of patients with migraine was higher when compared to the controls, indicating a significant difference (p = 0.037; p < 0.05). The zonulin level did not correlate with disease duration, attack duration, VAS score, or attack frequency (p > 0.05). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of zonulin revealed a cut-off value of 30.58 and above, at which it had 52.50% sensitivity, 77.5% specificity, 70% positive predictive value, and 62% a negative predictive value. The area under the curve was 63.6%, and the standard error value was 6.3%. The analysis also showed a statistically significant correlation between migraine diagnosis and a zonulin level of 30.58 (p = 0.006; p < 0.01). Conclusions Elevated zonulin levels in patients with migraine support the disruption of the intestinal barrier and neuroinflammation in these patients. The zonulin level may be a predictive biomarker of migraine. Multicenter, randomized trials are needed to evaluate treatments for intestinal permeability and zonulin levels in migraine patients.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-025-04058-yZonulinMigraineHeadacheGut-brain axisIntestinal permeability |
| spellingShingle | Gözde Ülfer Burcu Polat Ahmet Yabalak Çağrı Çakıcı Evaluation of zonulin levels in patients with migraine BMC Neurology Zonulin Migraine Headache Gut-brain axis Intestinal permeability |
| title | Evaluation of zonulin levels in patients with migraine |
| title_full | Evaluation of zonulin levels in patients with migraine |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of zonulin levels in patients with migraine |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of zonulin levels in patients with migraine |
| title_short | Evaluation of zonulin levels in patients with migraine |
| title_sort | evaluation of zonulin levels in patients with migraine |
| topic | Zonulin Migraine Headache Gut-brain axis Intestinal permeability |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-025-04058-y |
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