title: Vitamin D supplementation for nonspecific musculoskeletal pain in non-Western immigrants: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. fschreuder01@planet.nl
authors.forename: Ferdinand
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schreuder
authors.forename: Roos M D
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bernsen
authors.forename: Johannes C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: van der Wouden
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D