LOS ANGELES – Vitamin D deficiency was detected in 37% of 497 children and adolescents presenting to a tertiary care center for recurrent headache that required preventive treatment. Vitamin D insufficiency was found in 87%.
These results of routinely measuring baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels at new or follow-up visits suggest that pediatric patients with recurrent headaches may be at increased risk for vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency compared with the general healthy population, Dr. Hope L. O'Brien and her associates reported in a poster presentation at the meeting.
Vitamin D deficiency was defined as a serum 25(OH)D level of less than 20 ng/mL. Vitamin D insufficiency was defined as a level below 30 ng/mL. Serum 25(OH)D levels averaged 24 ng/mL in patients presenting with episodic migraine and 23 ng/mL in those with chronic migraine, reported Dr. O'Brien of the University of Cincinnati.
A few studies have suggested a possible link between low vitamin D levels and migraine or chronic tension-type headache in adults, but this may be the first study to assess the association in children and adolescents. Patients in the current study had a mean age of 14 years (range 4-25 years).
The finding's implications are unclear, but vitamin D supplementation might help improve headaches and overall health, Dr. O'Brien said. Studies in adults have linked low vitamin D levels with various chronic medical problems such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, autoimmune disease, chronic pain, and osteoporosis.
Dr. O'Brien did not list any disclosures and did not respond to attempts to contact her.