Abstract
PURPOSE: Many non-Western immigrants report musculoskeletal pains that are hard to treat. We studied the effect of high-dose vitamin D(3) on nonspecific persistent musculoskeletal complaints in vitamin D-deficient non-Western immigrants and assessed correlation of pain patterns with benefit.
METHODS: We conducted a semi-crossover randomized controlled trial between February 2008 and February 2010 in primary care in 84 non-Western immigrants visiting their general practitioner for nonspecific musculoskeletal pain. At baseline, patients were randomized to placebo or vitamin D (150,000 IU vitamin D(3) orally); at week 6, patients in the original vitamin D group were randomized a second time to receive vitamin D (again) or to switch to placebo, whereas patients in the original placebo group were all switched to vitamin D. The main outcome was self-assessed change in pain after the first 6 weeks.
RESULTS: Patients in the vitamin D group were significantly more likely than their counterparts in the placebo group to report pain relief 6 weeks after treatment (34.9% vs 19.5%, P = .04). The former were also more likely to report an improved ability to walk stairs (21.0% vs 8.4%, P = .008). Pain pattern was not correlated with the success of treatment. In a nonsignificant trend, patients receiving vitamin D over 12 weeks were more likely to have an improvement than patients receiving it over 6 weeks.
CONCLUSIONS: There is a small positive effect 6 weeks after high-dose vitamin D(3) on persistent nonspecific musculoskeletal pain. Future research should focus on longer follow-up, higher supplementation doses, and mental health.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 547-55 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Annals of family medicine |
Volume | 10 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 15 Nov 2012 |
Keywords
- Adult
- Cross-Over Studies
- Dietary Supplements
- Emigrants and Immigrants
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Musculoskeletal Pain/drug therapy
- Pain Measurement
- Treatment Outcome
- Vitamin D Deficiency/drug therapy
- Vitamin D/administration & dosage
- Young Adult