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

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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.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Neurology, Harran University School of Medicine, 63200, Sanliurfa, Turkey

    Mustafa Calik

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Harran University School of Medicine, Sanliurfa, Turkey

    Mehmet Salih Aktas & Abdullah Solmaz

  3. Department of Pediatric Oncology, Harran University School of Medicine, Sanliurfa, Turkey

    Emre Cecen

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Bulent Ecevit University School of Medicine, Zonguldak, Turkey

    Ibrahim Etem Piskin & Zuhal Ornek

  5. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Harran University School of Medicine, Sanliurfa, Turkey

    Hamza Ayaydın

  6. Department of Pediatric Metabolism and Nutrition, Harran University School of Medicine, Sanliurfa, Turkey

    Meryem Karaca

  7. Department of Neurology, Harran University School of Medicine, Sanliurfa, Turkey

    Halil Ay

Authors
  1. Mustafa Calik
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  2. Mehmet Salih Aktas
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  3. Emre Cecen
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  4. Ibrahim Etem Piskin
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  5. Hamza Ayaydın
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  6. Zuhal Ornek
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  7. Meryem Karaca
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  8. Abdullah Solmaz
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  9. Halil Ay
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Contributions

Calik M proposed the study and wrote the first draft. Cecen E helped the writing. All the authors contributed to the design and interpretation of the study. Calik M is the guarantor.

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Correspondence to Mustafa Calik.

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The authors declared that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Informed consent was obtained from the parents of all the patients.

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Calik, M., Aktas, M.S., Cecen, E. et al. The association between serum vitamin B12 deficiency and tension-type headache in Turkish children. Neurol Sci 39, 1009–1014 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-018-3286-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-018-3286-5

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