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HeadWay Issue #245 - The Latest on Vitamin D and Headache September 21, 2026 |
| Hi! In this issue: The Latest on Vitamin D and HeadacheMore Vitamin D Articles...The Latest on Vitamin D and HeadacheWe've talked about vitamin D before, but it's been a few years, believe it or not! So what does the more recent research say?The short answer is that modern research is continuing to point to vitamin D as a migraine and headache fighter. Some studies have been mixed in the past, but that may partly be because the studies are assuming that a fairly low level of vitamin D is "normal". What is normal today certainly wasn't normal throughout history. For example, we do seem to spend an "abnormal" amount of time indoors. That means less vitamin D. We also may eat less nutritious food - less vitamin D. Sunscreen, and even weight, also affect vitamin D levels. This study from Frontiers in Neurology from this year pointed to higher vitamin D levels as decreasing headache risk. And this article from NeurologyLive last year summarized various studies, showing mixed results in some studies, but pointing to higher vitamin D levels as decreasing risk of migraine in particular. Dr. Alexander Mauskop from the New York Headache Clinic, who has studied vitamins and migraine for many years, recently summarized some of his findings in "Why Everyone Should Have Their Vitamin D Level Checked, And Why 'Normal' Isn't Good Enough". There are quite a few good tips in the article, so I'll point you there. But one important take-away is that if you have your vitamin D levels checked (usually an inexpensive lab blood test), be sure not to take "normal" as the answer. The test is called 25-hydroxyvitamin D - short form 25(OH)D. When you get the test, be sure to ask for the specific number. What is "normal" will depend on the country you're in (oddly, the USA has a particularly low level as "normal"). But Dr. Mauskop recommends intervention if you're below 40-50ng/mL. That intervention may be something as simple as a D3 supplement, but sunshine and healthy food should also be a part of your lifestyle. Overall health is important for migraine. But vitamin D levels may be particularly important in order to reduce migraine and headache risk. For more, check out the articles below. Vitamin D and Related Resources
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