The Causes of Headache Symptoms With Low Vitamin D
If you suffer from headaches and have a low intake of vitamin D, you may actually have a vitamin D deficiency. Some types of headaches are linked to vitamin D deficiencies although the exact relationship is unclear. If you do suffer from something other than chronic tension headaches or migraines, the cause of your headaches is likely something other than a vitamin D deficiency.
Vitamin D Deficiency
Not taking supplements, spending time in the sun or eating vitamin D foods may cause a deficiency and headaches. Several foods contain vitamin D. Egg yolks, fish, cheese, oysters and fish are all natural sources of vitamin D. Milk, orange juice, cereal, margarine and yogurt are sometimes fortified with vitamin D. Mushrooms exposed to ultraviolent light may also contain vitamin D. Vitamin D is also commonly in multivitamins and come in forms including infant drops, softgels capsules, tablets, chewable tablets and gummy chewables. However, be advised that too much vitamin D may cause headaches too.
Tension Headaches
B12 & Migraines
Learn More
Tension headaches are a particular type of headaches, different from cluster headaches or migraines. In particular, they do not respond well to medication treatment. A study published in the journal "Headache" found that patients who had vitamin D deficiencies and tension headaches improved with supplements. Patients were given doses between 1,000 and 1,500 IU per day. The patients also had osteomalacia, which is low calcium levels. Patients took 1,000 mg of calcium daily too. Everyone in the study experienced significant or complete improvement of headache symptoms without the four- to six-week program. This suggests that the lack of vitamin D was the cause of the headaches as well as associated muscle aches.
- Tension headaches are a particular type of headaches, different from cluster headaches or migraines.
- A study published in the journal "Headache" found that patients who had vitamin D deficiencies and tension headaches improved with supplements.
Chronic Migraines
Chronic migraines also have a link to vitamin D deficiency. Migraine pain may be linked to inflammation and vitamin D helps decrease inflammation. Not all people with migraines have a vitamin D deficiency, but supplements to raise vitamin D levels may help those that do. Forty-two percent of chronic migraine sufferers has a vitamin D deficiency, according to Dr. Steve Wheeler. Dr. Wheeler presented his findings to the America Headaches Society in 2008.
- Chronic migraines also have a link to vitamin D deficiency.
- Not all people with migraines have a vitamin D deficiency, but supplements to raise vitamin D levels may help those that do.
People at Risk
Fish Oil & Migraines
Learn More
There are certain behaviors that make you more at risk for a vitamin D deficiency. Smoking interferes with your ability to metabolize vitamin D. Staying indoors or generally out of the sun increases your risk because your body can make vitamin D from sunlight. This is especially true for people with darker skin because their bodies have a harder time getting vitamin D from sunlight. Eating a diet low in vitamin D-rich foods like eggs, cheese and fish also increases risk. The elderly, vegans, vegetarians and infants breastfed by women with low vitamin D levels also are at a greater risk of being deficient.
- There are certain behaviors that make you more at risk for a vitamin D deficiency.
- This is especially true for people with darker skin because their bodies have a harder time getting vitamin D from sunlight.
Related Articles
References
- New York Headache Center; Vitamin D Deficiency in Chronic Migraine; Dr. Alexander Mauskop
- The New York Times Health Guide: Vitamin D
- Olympia Sports Chiropractor; Does Vitamin D Deficiency Cause Tension Headaches; Kelly Golob, D.C.
- Migraine.com: Vitamin D for the Treatment of Migraine Headaches: An Introduction
- Institute of Medicine (US) Committee to Review Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin D and Calcium; Ross AC, Taylor CL, Yaktine AL, et al., editors. Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2011. 3, Overview of Vitamin D.
- Roy S, Sherman A, Monari-Sparks MJ, Schweiker O, Hunter K. Correction of low vitamin D improves fatigue: Effect of correction of low Vitamin D in fatigue study (EViDiF study). N Am J Med Sci. 2014 Aug;6(8):396-402. doi: 10.4103/1947-2714.139291
- Wong SK, Chin KY, Ima-Nirwana S. Vitamin D and Depression: The evidence from an indirect clue to treatment strategy. Curr Drug Targets. 2018;19(8):888-97. doi: 10.2174/1389450118666170913161030
- Nair R, Maseeh A. Vitamin D: The "sunshine" vitamin. J Pharmacol Pharmacother. 2012;3(2):118-26. doi:10.4103/0976-500X.95506
- Meena N, Singh Chawla SP, Garg R, Batta A, Kaur S. Assessment of vitamin D in rheumatoid arthritis and its correlation with disease activity. J Nat Sci Biol Med. 2018;9(1):54-58. doi:10.4103/jnsbm.JNSBM_128_17
- Fares A. Winter cardiovascular diseases phenomenon. N Am J Med Sci. 2013;5(4):266-79. doi:10.4103/1947-2714.110430
- Porojnicu AC, Dahlback A, Moan J. Sun exposure and cancer survival in Norway: changes in the risk of death with season of diagnosis and latitude. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2008;624:43-54. doi: 10.1007/978-0-387-77574-6_4
- Holick MF et al. Evaluation, treatment, and prevention of vitamin D deficiency: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011 Jul;96(7):1911-30. doi: 10.1210/jc.2011-0385
- Ross AC et al. The 2011 report on dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D from the Institute of Medicine: what clinicians need to know. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011 Jan;96(1):53-8.
- Pilz et al. Vitamin D testing and treatment: a narrative review of current evidence. Endocr Connect. 2019 Feb 1;8(2):R27-R43. doi: 10.1530/EC-18-0432
- National Institutes of Health Offices of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin D fact sheet. Updated August 7, 2019.
Writer Bio
Sarka-Jonae Miller has been a freelance writer and editor since 2003. She was a personal trainer for four years with certifications from AFAA and NASM. Miller also worked at 24 Hour Fitness, LA Fitness and as a mobile trainer. Her career in the fitness industry begin in 2000 as a martial arts, yoga and group exercise instructor. She graduated cum laude from Syracuse University.