Relationship between Vitamin D deficiency and Chronic Tension-type Headache

INTRODUCTION: Vitamin D deficiency is a possible factor involved in the etiology of chronic tension-type headache (CTTH). Vitamin D is directly associated with lifestyle and eating habits and affects a large proportion of the general population. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of vitamin D deficiency in CTTH.
METHODS: Patients aged 18 years or older that presented to our Neurology polyclinic with CTTH between December 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were assigned into three groups based on their Vitamin D levels: (I) deficiency state: <10 ng/mL, (II) insufficiency state: 10-25 ng/mL, and (III) optimal state: 25-70 ng/mL. The groups were compared with regard to age, gender, and Vitamin D levels.
RESULTS: The study included a total of 782 patients comprising 32% men and 68% women with a mean age of 34 years. Based on their serum Vitamin D levels, 482 (61.6%) patients were classified into Group I (<10 ng/mL), 211 (27.0%) patients into Group II (10-25 ng/mL), and 89 (11.4%) patients into Group III (>25 ng/mL) and a significant difference was found among the three groups with regard to serum Vitamin D levels (p<0.01).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency is an increasingly major health problem due to modern lifestyle. Accordingly, Vitamin D deficiency should be considered in patients presenting with CTTH.