Evaluation of B12, folate, ferritin, vitamin D, TSH, and T4 levels of pediatric patients with migraine and tension-type headache

Year 2026, Volume: 12 Issue: 1, 1 - 12

Fedli Emre Kılıç , Rojan İpek , Hüseyin Tanrıverdi , Hatice Serap Koçak , Emine Kaplan Serin

https://doi.org/10.19127/mbsjohs.1657216

Abstract

Objective: Migraine and tension-type headaches are chronic neurological disorders that are common in both children and adolescents. . This study aimed to determine the levels of B12, ferritin, folate, vitamin D, TSH and T4 in children with migraine and tension-type headache.
Method: This is a retrospective study involving subjects presenting to the Adıyaman Training and Research Hospital pediatric neurology outpatient clinic with the diagnosis of headache. Two hundred and forty-two patients (95 with migraine headache, 147 with tension-type headache) diagnosed according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders were included. The control group consisted of Two hundred and sixty children who presented to the hospital for any reason and who met the inclusion criteria. Age, gender and laboratory data (B12, folate, ferritin, vitamin D, TSH, andT4 levels) of all subjects were recorded.
Results: The mean age of those with migraine headache was 13.16±3.33, and the mean age of those with tension headache was 12.26±3.63. 19.1% of those with migraine type headache and 30.8% of those with tension typeheadache were male. It was determined that B12, ferritin, folate, vitamin D, TSH and T4 levels were lower in patients with migraine and tension-type headache compared to the control group. (p<0.05). B12, folate, vitamin D and TSH levels were found to be lower in patients with migraine headache compared to controls and patients with tension-type headache. Ferritin and T4 levels were found to be lower in those with tension-type headache.
Conclusion: Low levels of B12, ferritin, folate, vitamin D, TSH, and T4 in blood tests may contribute to the development of headaches associated with neurological and psychiatric disorders in children. . For this reason, it is recommended to control B12, ferritin, folate, vitamin D, TSH, and T4 levels in those diagnosed with migraine and tension-type headache and to take supplements when necessary

Keywords

headache , migraine , B12 , vitamin D , ferritin , folate , TSH , and T4

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the XXX Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Reference No: 2022/ 9). Written approval was obtained from the hospital management where the study was conducted.

Thanks

The authors would like to thank all the children who participated in this study.

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