Vitamin D Levels Impact Pain Intensity
Researchers reported in a study epublished in August 2014 that low levels of vitamin D are associated with increased pain intensity and decreased quality of life in individuals with chronic pain. The American Academy of Pain Medicine states that 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, indicating that pain affects more Americans than diabetes, heart disease, and cancer combined.
The investigators measured serum vitamin D levels in 83 women with chronic widespread pain. The researchers categorized the women into those with sufficient vitamin D of greater than 20 ng/ml or deficient vitamin D of below 20 ng/ml. The scientists evaluated subjects using nerve conduction studies, various pain scales, and the Nottingham Health Profile.
The subjects with deficient vitamin D experienced significantly higher pain scores, subscores, and Nottingham Health Profile scores (except social isolation subscale) compared to the subjects with sufficient vitamin D. The investigators also determined that lower vitamin D levels correlated to right and left median and/or ulnar motor nerve amplitudes and left tibial motor amplitude on the nerve conduction studies.
The investigators concluded, “This study confirms that hypovitaminosis D is related with higher pain intensity and lower quality of life scores in patients with chronic widespread pain when compared with control group. Additionally, we identified for the first time that there were negative correlations between vitamin D levels and some findings of nerve conduction studies.”
Reference:
Kuru P, et al. Rheumatol Int. 2014 Aug 2
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