Have you heard your friends talking about their vitamin D level?
Did your healthcare provider check your level at your annual checkup?
What Is Vitamin D?
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Optimal Vitamin D Level
There is dispute among experts regarding theoptimal vitamin D level.
That said, the Institute of Medicine, recommends maintaining a vitamin D level above 20 ng/mL.
Causes of Deficiency
A number of medical conditions and factors can predispose individuals tovitamin D deficiency.
With less sunlight, there is less vitamin D production, so presumably lower levels overall.
The “why” behind this potential link between vitamin D deficiency and headaches is unclear.
This association was seen for both episodic migraine and chronic migraine.
Implications
Keep in mind that a link or association does not mean that one causes the other.
Also, these three studies included a very small number of patients.
The big picture here is that low vitamin D may contribute to chronic head pain.
More studies, especially large randomized controlled trials, are needed to better define this relationship.
The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for adults over the age of 70 is 800 IU.
Therefore, it’s important to discuss your vitamin D treatment plan with your healthcare provider.
National Institutes of Health.
Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin D fact sheet for health professionals.
Dawson-Huges B.Vitamin D deficiency in adults: definition, clinical manifestations, and treatment.
2013;18(Suppl 1):S66-70.
