EBN- Headaches can strike you for no apparent reason. It’s very annoying, and people usually resort to painkillers without identifying the cause. However, frequent headaches are an indicator worth considering.
One of the most important causes of persistent headaches is vitamin deficiency, and we may overlook this reason. Once the deficiency of vitamins that the body needs is treated, the headache disappears.
What vitamins may cause headaches when they are deficient in the body?
Vitamins play a vital role in many vital processes in the body, such as energy production, tissue regeneration, and immune system support. They also contribute to maintaining the health of the nervous system, which plays a fundamental role in regulating many vital functions. The most important vitamins whose deficiency causes headaches are the following:
Vitamin D
Most people get vitamin D from a diet that includes fatty fish, dairy products, and eggs. The sun is also the most important source of vitamin D. A deficiency in vitamin D can cause a number of complications, but recent studies have also shown a possible link between this deficiency and headaches.
To confirm whether the cause of your headaches is related to vitamin D, you should have a blood test, and then take the appropriate dose of the vitamin. The National Institutes of Health in the United States recommends 600 international units of vitamin D for adults ages 19 to 70. Adults ages 71 and older need 800 international units.
Vitamin B2
B vitamins generally help protect against headaches, but vitamin B2 (riboflavin) is particularly important when it comes to headaches, as a deficiency can cause these symptoms immediately. We can get vitamin B2 from foods or supplements that help improve metabolism, boost energy, and reduce annoying headaches. Foods rich in vitamin B2 include eggs, lean meats, green vegetables, and fortified cereals. Experts recommend 1.3 milligrams for men and 1.1 milligrams for women.
Magnesium
According to studies, migraine patients often suffer from magnesium deficiency. Therefore, when headaches recur, a test should be done to ensure the level of magnesium in the body because this deficiency not only causes headaches, but is associated with several other complications. Magnesium is usually available in the human body and does not require an external supply, but some people have genetic problems that prevent the absorption of magnesium, or it may be due to inherited renal magnesium wastage, where magnesium is lost through the kidneys, or the secretion of excessive amounts of magnesium, or stress, or poor intake of nutrients or many other factors.
Omega 3 and Omega 6
An imbalance between the ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 is a common cause of headaches. A person may get too much omega-6 than omega-3, especially if they eat meat, which leads to high levels of arachidonic acid and linoleic acid, causing an imbalance. In this case, the doctor may prescribe taking supplements of eicosapentaenoic acid or docosahexaenoic acid, along with a little gamma-linolenic acid, because this treatment method restores the balance between the above-mentioned fatty acids.
Vitamin E
Many women suffer from migraines in conjunction with menstrual symptoms. Vitamin E is important in reducing menstrual migraines by reducing the amount of arachidonic acid in the body. This acid later becomes a cause of menstrual migraines.
Vitamin E can be obtained from some food sources such as sunflower seeds, almonds and spinach, which contain large amounts of this vitamin. The doctor may prescribe a vitamin E supplement in case of severe deficiency.
