Tension headaches -- those caused by muscle tension in the neck, shoulders and jaw -- are the most common type of headache, the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies reports. Vitamin D deficiency and headache symptoms may be related. Deficiency of this fat-soluble vitamin is associated with a host of health problems including osteoporosis, seasonal affective disorder, hyperparathyroidism, heart disease, diabetes, chronic pain, arthritis, some cancers and hypertension. Headaches often accompany these diseases.
Tension Headaches
Tension headaches are often a symptom of another condition. Both tension headaches and vitamin D deficiency occur at high rates among the general population. Many adults are at risk for vitamin D deficiency, according to Cleveland Clinic Health. Biomedical research at the University of Kansas Institute for Neurological Disorders suggests that vitamin D deficiency may lower an individual's pain threshold by increasing the number of pain-sensing nerves in the muscles. Chronic headaches are often a side effect of medications used to treat inflammatory bowel disease. Headaches are also one of the most common symptoms of cystic fibrosis and celiac disease.
Role of Vitamin D
The body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium -- a mineral that helps maintain strong bones. Adequate vitamin D intake prevents rickets in children and osteomalacia -- softening of the bones -- in adults. Calcium and vitamin D together help protect against osteoporosis. Vitamin D also aids in immune function, reduces the risk of inflammation, regulates blood pressure and improves neuromuscular function. Richard Jensen, Ph.D., a holistic health practitioner and nutritionist, also recommends vitamin D and calcium supplementation to help relieve tension headaches. Jensen refers to a study of eight patients who reported that their headaches were much less severe after taking calcium and vitamin D supplements. The study appeared in the September 2009 issue of the journal "Headache." Talk to your doctor before taking any supplements as either too much calcium or too much vitamin D can actually cause headaches.
Vitamin D and Sunlight
Limited exposure to sunlight prevents the body from getting enough vitamin D. Your body makes vitamin D when your skin is exposed to ultraviolet rays. Living in northern latitudes, staying indoors most of the time and covering your body with clothing to protect it from the sun reduce exposure to UVB rays. One review points to evidence that the frequency of tension headaches rises with increasing latitude, according to the Vitamin D Council. Higher rates of tension headaches occur at a latitude of 45 degrees and 55 degrees compared to rates at 1 degree to 25 degrees. Individuals with darker skin are also at risk for vitamin D deficiency. Higher levels of the pigment melanin reduce the skin's ability to produce vitamin D. People with seasonal affective disorder -- a type of depression some individuals suffer during the darker winter months -- often have low vitamin D levels. In addition to common symptoms of depression, individuals with SAD can develop physical symptoms such as aching muscles, chest pains and headaches.
Other Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency
Inadequate dietary consumption and malabsorption problems can also cause vitamin D deficiency. Natural sources of vitamin D include fatty fish, fish oils, beef liver and egg yolk; therefore, vegetarians may not consume the recommended levels from dietary sources. Celiac disease, Crohn's disease and cystic fibrosis can affect the ability of the small intestine to absorb vitamin D from foods passing through the digestive tract. Because kidney function decreases with age, older individuals are at increased risk of vitamin D deficiency as the kidneys become less efficient at converting vitamin D to its active form.
References
- Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies: Headache
- Cleveland Clinic Health; Vitamin D: Are You D-Pleted; March 2010
- Institute for Neurological Disorders, University of Kansas; Vitamin D Deficiency and Muscle Pain; Sarah Tague; October 2010
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin D
- "Headache"; Chronic Tension-type Headache With Vitamin D Deficiency: Casual or Causal Association?; S. Prakash, et al.; September 2009
- Dr.Pinna; Vitamin D Deficiency Everywhere; Dr. Sanford Pinna; December 2010
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