Researchers studied 82 children to understand why some kids with headaches have trouble paying attention and staying focused. They found that children with headaches showed more signs of attention problems compared to healthy children. The study also discovered that certain vitamins and minerals in the blood—like vitamin D, vitamin B12, and iron—were lower in children with headaches. These findings suggest that headaches and attention difficulties might be connected through these important nutrients, and checking these nutrient levels could help doctors better understand and treat children’s headaches.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether children who get headaches are more likely to have trouble focusing and paying attention, and if low levels of certain vitamins and minerals in the blood might explain this connection.
  • Who participated: 82 children aged 6 to 16 years old—42 children who regularly get headaches and 40 healthy children without headaches. About half were boys and half were girls.
  • Key finding: Children with headaches showed significantly more attention and focus problems than healthy children. Additionally, children with headaches had lower levels of vitamin D, vitamin B12, iron (ferritin), and thyroid hormones, and these low levels were linked to worse attention problems.
  • What it means for you: If your child gets frequent headaches and struggles to focus in school, it may be worth asking their doctor to check their vitamin and mineral levels. Fixing these deficiencies might help with both the headaches and attention problems. However, this is early research, and more studies are needed before making treatment changes.

The Research Details

This was a comparison study where researchers looked at two groups of children: those with headaches and those without. All children completed questionnaires about their attention and focus using standard tools that doctors use to check for attention problems. Researchers also took blood samples from all participants to measure important nutrients and thyroid hormones.

The study was conducted at a university hospital in Turkey, where children came to clinics for headaches or mental health checkups. The researchers compared the blood test results and attention scores between the two groups to see if there were differences.

This type of study is useful for finding patterns and connections between different health problems, but it doesn’t prove that one thing causes another—it just shows they might be related.

Understanding whether headaches and attention problems are connected through nutrient deficiencies is important because it could lead to better treatment. If doctors know that low vitamins might be part of the problem, they could test for these deficiencies and potentially help children by fixing them. This approach treats the root cause rather than just the symptoms.

This study has a reasonable sample size of 82 children, which gives fairly reliable results. The researchers used standard, well-established tools to measure attention problems, which is good. However, the study is relatively small and was done in one location, so the findings may not apply to all children everywhere. The study shows connections between factors but cannot prove that low vitamins actually cause the attention problems—only that they appear together.

What the Results Show

The most important finding was that children with headaches had significantly higher rates of attention and focus problems compared to healthy children. This difference was very clear and unlikely to be due to chance (p<.001, which means there’s less than a 0.1% chance this happened randomly).

When researchers looked at blood tests, they found several important differences. Children with headaches had lower levels of red blood cells, hemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen), vitamin B12, vitamin D, and ferritin (stored iron). They also had differences in thyroid hormone levels.

Most importantly, the researchers found that children with lower levels of vitamin B12, vitamin D, ferritin, and thyroid hormones tended to have worse attention and focus problems. The connection was strongest with vitamin D—children with lower vitamin D had noticeably more attention difficulties.

These findings suggest that the nutrients in the blood might play a role in both headaches and attention problems in children.

The study also found differences in complete blood count parameters between the two groups, suggesting that children with headaches may have different blood composition overall. Thyroid hormone levels were different in children with headaches, which is interesting because the thyroid controls many body functions including energy and focus. The pattern of multiple nutrient deficiencies in the headache group suggests these children may have overall nutritional challenges.

Previous research has shown that vitamin D deficiency is common in children with headaches, and this study supports that finding. The connection between attention problems and nutrient deficiencies has been noted in other research, but this appears to be one of the first studies specifically looking at whether these two problems are connected through shared nutrient deficiencies. The findings align with what we know about how vitamins and minerals support brain function and nerve health.

This study is relatively small with only 82 children total, so the results may not apply to all children everywhere. The study was done in one hospital in Turkey, so cultural and environmental factors might be different elsewhere. Most importantly, this study shows that these factors are connected but doesn’t prove that low vitamins cause the attention problems—they could be connected in other ways. The study doesn’t follow children over time, so we don’t know if treating the nutrient deficiencies would actually improve the headaches or attention problems. More research with larger groups and longer follow-up is needed.

The Bottom Line

If your child has frequent headaches and struggles with attention or focus, ask their doctor about checking blood levels of vitamin D, vitamin B12, and iron (ferritin). If these are low, supplementing them under medical supervision may help. This recommendation has moderate confidence because the study shows a connection but doesn’t prove treatment would work. Always consult with your child’s doctor before starting any supplements.

Parents of children who get frequent headaches, especially if the child also has trouble focusing in school or paying attention. Teachers and school counselors who notice children with both headaches and attention problems. Pediatricians and neurologists treating children with headaches. This research is less relevant for children without headaches or attention problems.

If nutrient deficiencies are found and treated, improvements in headaches and attention might take several weeks to a few months to become noticeable. Vitamin and mineral levels in the body take time to build back up. Don’t expect immediate changes, but consistent treatment could lead to gradual improvement.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track headache frequency (number of headaches per week), duration (how long each lasts), and intensity (mild, moderate, severe) alongside school performance or focus-related activities. Also note any supplements or vitamins being taken and their dosages.
  • Work with a doctor to get blood tests for vitamin D, B12, and iron levels. If deficient, start appropriate supplementation as recommended by the doctor. Track compliance with supplements daily and monitor any changes in headache frequency or child’s ability to concentrate.
  • Create a weekly log of headaches and attention/focus observations. Retest blood levels every 2-3 months after starting supplementation to ensure levels are improving. Correlate changes in nutrient levels with improvements in headache frequency and school performance or focus metrics.

This research suggests a connection between headaches, attention problems, and nutrient deficiencies in children, but it does not prove that one causes the other. This study is preliminary and should not be used to diagnose or treat any condition. Always consult with your child’s pediatrician or neurologist before making any changes to their diet, supplements, or treatment plan. Blood tests should only be ordered and interpreted by qualified healthcare professionals. This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.