Relationship between Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms and Migraine without Aura in an Iranian Population

Abstract

Background. Inflammation has a key role in migraine pathophysiology. Vitamin D is an effective anti-inflammatory agent. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between migraine and two vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms (TaqI and FokI) and also the relationship between VDR polymorphisms and headache severity. Methods. In this case-control study we assessed 103 patients with newly diagnosed migraine without aura and 100 healthy subjects. Patients filled headache impact test-6 (HIT-6) as a tool to assess headache severity. Results. Genotype frequencies of VDR were significantly different between control and migraine patients. Heterozygote genotypes (Ff and Tt) were statistically more frequent in the migraine patients than the control subjects both for TaqI gene (P = 0.018; OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.03–3.18) and FokI gene polymorphisms (P = 0.001; OR = 2.91, 95% CI = 1.47–5.77). Also f and t alleles were more frequent in the migraine patients. Total HIT-6 score was significantly different between FokI heterozygote and homozygote patients (60.32 ± 1.87 versus 49.87 ± 2.69, resp., P = 0.004). Conclusions. In conclusion our results showed that TaqI and FokI gene polymorphisms are associated with migraine without aura in Iranians patients. Also headache severity in FokI heterozygote patients was significantly greater than in the homozygote patients.

Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D is associated with higher risk of frequent headache in middle-aged and older men

“…The role of vitamin D in headaches remains unclear, mainly due to predominantly small studies with inconsistent findings89101112131415161718 and the lack of large randomized supplementation trials that would show benefit after improvement of vitamin D status with vitamin D supplementation23. Our study, being one of the largest studies that have investigated the issue, supports the view that vitamin D may be beneficial in headache prevention.…”

“…However, there is little data regarding the association between vitamin D exposure and headache. In a small case-control study, vitamin D receptor polymorphisms were found to be more prevalent in migraine patients than in controls and be related to severity of headache8. In a cross-sectional study from Norway, non-smoking participants with migraine or non-migraine headache had lower serum 25(OH)D concentration9, whereas no difference was observed among smokers.…”

Diet and Headache: Part 2

“…The majority of past studies have not demonstrated any difference in the serum levels of vitamin D in patients with migraine as compared to controls, but one study did show certain vitamin D polymorphisms to be associated with migraine without aura . The largest study published to date found an increased prevalence of persons with “non‐migraine” headache in the lowest quartile of serum vitamin D levels as opposed to the highest quartile (OR 1.2; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.29) .…”

Relationship between FokI polymorphism in the vitamin D receptor gene and fibromyalgia syndrome

“…Several restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) have been reported for the VDR gene, including sites cleaved by BsmI, ApaI, TaqI and FokI. Recently there have been a number of studies reporting that VDR gene polymorphisms have connections with some diseases, such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease …”