Is There a Relation Between Vitamin B₁₂ Levels and Headaches in Children and Adolescents?

Abstract

Objective: Primary headaches are common and benign discomforts both in children and adolescents. However, they have a negative influence on the quality of life. This retrospective study aimed to determine the relationship between vitamin B12 results and primary headaches in Turkish children. Methods: Demographical features, headache types, laboratory results, including vitamin B12, were assessed retrospectively. Headache types were categorized as tension-type headache, migraine, and unclassified headache according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders-beta version (ICD-3 beta). Patients with seconder headaches, anemia, and macrocytosis were excluded. Results: The study group consisted of 133 (86 female, 47 male) patients with headache and a control group of 103 (57 female, 46 male) healthy children. There was no significant difference in terms of age and gender between groups (p>0.05). Vitamin B₁₂ levels in tension-type headache, migraine, and unclassified headache groups were significantly lower (p<0.0001) than in the control group. Logistic regression has identified lower vitamin B12 levels than 400 pg/ml as an independent risk factor for headache (OR: 3.212, 95% CI: 1.850-5.576). Conclusion: We conclude that lower vitamin B12 levels than 400 pg/mL may be associated with tension-type headache, migraine, and unclassified headache.