Vitamin D deficiency linked to chronic headaches

If you’re suffering from chronic headaches, you may want to consider spending a little more time in the sun—or start taking a quality vitamin D supplement.

According to a study from the University of Eastern Finland, vitamin D deficiencies are more common among people who report regular headaches.

The findings were published in Scientific Reports.

Study details

The Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study analysed the serum vitamin D levels and occurrence of headache in 2,600 men aged between 42 and 60 years.

In 68% of these men, the serum vitamin D level was below 50 nmol/l, which is generally considered the threshold for vitamin D deficiency.

Chronic headache occurring at least on a weekly basis was reported by 250 men, and men reporting chronic headache had lower serum vitamin D levels than others.

When the study population was divided into four groups based on their serum vitamin D levels, the findings were quite dramatic.

The group with the lowest levels had over a two-fold risk of chronic headache in comparison to the group with the highest levels.

‘Getting a little sun’ has benefits

Strengthening the conclusions of the study, it was also found that regular sunshine exposure lowered the occurrence of headaches. Chronic headache were more frequently reported by men who were examined outside the summer months of June through September.

Thanks to the UVB radiation provided by the sun, the average serum vitamin D levels are higher during the summer months.