Diffuse musculoskeletal pain is not associated with low vitamin D levels or improved by treatment with vitamin D.
BACKGROUND
Uncontrolled studies have suggested that vitamin D insufficiency causes diffuse musculoskeletal pain.


OBJECTIVE
Comparison of vitamin D levels in patients with diffuse musculoskeletal pain with controls; evaluation of the effect of treatment with vitamin D on diffuse pain.


METHODS
25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels were measured in patients with diffuse musculoskeletal pain and osteoarthritis (controls) recruited from a community rheumatology practice. The diffuse pain patients with 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels < or = 20 ng/mL were randomized to receive placebo or ergocalciferol 50,000 IU once weekly for 3 months. Outcomes assessed were pain measured by visual analog scale (VAS) and functional pain score (FPS).


RESULTS
One hundred eighty-four patients with diffuse pain and 104 with osteoarthritis entered the study. Mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels did not differ between the groups (diffuse pain 29.2 ng/mL +/- 13.0, controls 28.8 ng/mL +/- 10.5; P = 0.78); nor did the percent of patients in each group with vitamin D levels < or = 20 ng/mL (diffuse pain 29%, controls 20%; P = 0.09). Fifty patients with diffuse pain who had 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels < or = 20 ng/mL were randomized to receive vitamin D or placebo for 3 months. Vitamin D treatment had no effect on pain in comparison to baseline (VAS P = 0.73; FPS P = 0.18) or at 3 months in comparison to placebo (VAS P = 0.12; FPS P = 0.05, in favor of placebo).


CONCLUSIONS
Low vitamin D levels are not associated with diffuse musculoskeletal pain, and treatment with vitamin D does not reduce pain in patients with diffuse pain who have low vitamin D levels.
Warner
Ann E
AE
Center for Rheumatic Disease, Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri 64111, USA. annwarner@ix.netcom.com
Arnspiger
Sarah A
SA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004872:Ergocalciferols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044465:White People
D004872:Ergocalciferols; D014815:Vitamins