New research findings that have been published in the International Journal of Clinical Practice indicate that the vitamin D status and factors involved in vitamin D metabolism affect migraines.
Migraines are a type of serious, recurrent head ache. It is assumed that the development of migraine attacks is related to inflammations in nerves and blood vessels.
At present, there are not many studies that have investigated the relation between migraines and vitamin D. The existing research results are inconsistent, with some studies revealing a positive relation and others positing a negative relation. Regardless of this, there are very many studies that have demonstrated in detail that higher vitamin D levels help to reduce inflammation in the body. It is therefore probable that vitamin D plays a role in the development of migraine attacks.
Turkish scientists have conducted a study. The aim was to ascertain whether the vitamin D status was associated with recurrent migraine attacks.
The researchers concentrated on certain compounds that are involved in vitamin D metabolism. These included the vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) and the vitamin D receptors (VDR). The scientists wanted to find out how concentrations of these compounds relate to migraine and typical migraine characteristics.
Blood samples were taken from 101 study participants. Half of the participants suffered from frequent migraine attacks, while the other half comprised health test persons without migraines. The research team then compared the vitamin D level and concentration of VDBP and VDR.
Here are the most important results of the study:
Both the vitamin D level as well as the VDBP values were significantly lower in individuals suffering from migraines than among healthy persons. The VDR concentrations of both groups do not differ on the other hand.
Source: Celikbileck, A. et al. Serum levels of vitamin D, vitamin D-binding protein and vitamin D receptor in migraine patients from central Anatolia region. International Journal of Clinical Practice, 2014.
