The association between serum vitamin B12 deficiency and tension-type headache in Turkish children

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the relationship between serum vitamin B₁₂ level and tension-type headache. The study groups consisted of 75 patients (40 females, 35 males) with headache and a control group of 49 healthy children (25 females, 24 males). Serum vitamin B₁₂ level < 200 pg/ml was defined as deficient, and < 160 pg/ml as severely deficient. The serum vitamin B₁₂ level was measured by the electrochemiluminescence (ECLIA) method. The serum vitamin B₁₂ levels in the headache and control groups were 273.01 ± 76.77 and 316.22 ± 74.53 pg/ml, with the difference determined as statistically significant (p = 0.003). In the case group, 18/75 patients (24%) had a serum vitamin B12 level below the normal of 200 pg/ml, and in the control group 4/49 (8%) patients were also below the normal range (p = 0.021). The serum vitamin B₁₂ level in the children with tension-type headache was significantly lower than that in the control group. From the results of the study, it was concluded that there may be an association between vitamin B₁₂ level and tension-type headache. However, further clinical studies are needed.

Keywords: Anxiety; Children; Depression; Headache; Vitamin B12 deficiency.