Vitamin D may be responsible for headaches, too

Vitamin D may be responsible for headaches, too

Vitamin D is a very important vitamin in the human body. It’s deficiency is responsible for many different diseases. Recently more and more studies showed the link between Vitamin D deficiency and Headache.

Headache is one of the most common and disabling diseases worldwide. Though there are very effective treatments available for headache and migraine disorders, we still don’t know enough about the underlying causes of the diseases.

In the new study below researchers could demonstrate that chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) is associated with vitamin D deficiency. These findings are in line with previous studies. As a next step researchers have to find out if supplementation can be an adequate treatment.

Here the details of the study that was originally published in Wiley:

Objective

To see the interrelation between chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) and serum vitamin D levels.

Background

Several studies have suggested an association between chronic pain and vitamin D deficiency. Anecdotal evidence suggests that vitamin D deficiency may be associated with tension-type headache and migraine.

Methods

This case-control study was carried out to examine the association between CTTH and serum 25-hydroxy vitamin (25(OH) D) levels. One hundred consecutive adult (>18 years) patients with CTTH and 100 matched healthy controls were enrolled.

Results

The serum 25(OH) D levels were significantly lower in CTTH patients than in the controls (14.7 vs 27.4 ng/mL). The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (serum 25 (OH) D < 20 ng/mL) was greater in patients with CTTH (71% vs 25%). CTTH patients had a significantly high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain (79% vs 57%), muscle weakness (29%vs 10%), muscle tenderness score (7.5 vs 1.9), and bone tenderness score (3.0 vs 0.8) in comparison to controls. CTTH patients with vitamin D deficient group (<20 ng/mL) had a higher prevalence of musculoskeletal pain (58% vs 31%), muscle weakness (38%vs 7%), muscle and bone tenderness score, associated fatigue (44% vs 17%) and more prolonged course (15.5 months vs 11.2 months). A strong positive correlation was noted between serum vitamin D levels and total muscle tenderness score (R² = 0. 7365) and total bone tenderness score (R² = 0. 6293).

Conclusion

Decreased serum 25(OHD) concentration was associated with CTTH. Intervention studies are required to find out if supplementation of vitamin D is effective in patients with CTTH.

Source: Wiley

Migraine Headache – German Neuroscience Center Dubai

Are you suffering from headaches? You are not alone! Headache is a widespread disease and one of the most common reasons to visit a neurologist. It occurs in different types and strengths and can impair the quality of living substantially. It is possible to do something against it.