Vitamin D deficiency in chronic migraine
Vitamin D deficiency has become a very popular topic in lay and professional literature, and deservedly so. Vitamin D is important not only for bone health, but for normal functioning of many organs. Its deficiency appears to be much more common than it was previously suspected. Dr. Steve Wheeler has found vitamin D deficiency in 42% of 55 patients with chronic migraine headaches. He presented these findings at the recent meeting of the American Headache Society. We do not have evidence that taking vitamin D will help relieve headaches, however if a deficiency is present correcting it can certainly improve overall health of the patient. One possible cause of what appears to be increasing incidence of vitamin D deficiency is widespread use of prescription and over-the-counter antacids. Reducing stomach acidity helps relieve heartburn and other symptoms of reflux, but it may also interfere with absorption of vitamins and minerals.
November 14th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Bookmarked, don’t have time to ready more just now
November 18th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
I have a 13 year old daughter that for the second time beginning in the month of Novemeber is suffering from migranes. After many Hospital and Doctor visits from November 2008 through March 2009 her headaches slowly went away. Now the month of November has re-appeared and so have her headaches. My thoughts have wandered to why do headaches arrive around the same time, what is different from the month of July compared to November? I could only think that there is less sunlight, after googling headaches related to Vitamin D deffixcency maybe this is the answer to our problem? I will start giving her Vitamin D and see our outcome.
August 23rd, 2010 at 12:44 pm
I have been having chronic migraines since January 2007. I also have a vitamin D deficiency. I have been on prescription vitamin D and it helps to bring my levels up, but they drop again. Doctor doesn’t want to flood my liver with too much Vitamin D and so I am on OTC 2000 IU’s per day and take Calcium. My stomach/throat starting burning - likely due to the Calcium. Just switched to Calcium Citrite to try and help that. But, these headaches are relentless and my bones in my neck, arms, legs hurt. I think I pretty much have a headache daily now. It just lightens up for maybe 3-6 days per month. I barely tolerate the day.
August 23rd, 2010 at 1:44 pm
We recommend our patients who are seriously deficient in magnesium to take at least 5,000 units a day or takes a prescription strength, 50,000 units once a week. For daily headaches, Botox injections can help up to 70% of patients and we expect FDA approval before the end of this year, which would make it easier to get insurance to pay for it.