Several studies have shown that vitamin D supplementation could be useful for treating diffuse musculoskeletal ( DMS ) pain in adults.

The aim of a study was to evaluate the effects of correcting a vitamin D deficiency ( less than or equal to 50 nmol/l ) on diffuse musculoskeletal pain and quality of life in adults.
A pragmatic prospective study was conducted in a general practice setting in the Rhone-Alps area between in the 2009. Patients between the ages of 18 and 50 years old who consulted their general practitioner ( GP ) for diffuse musculoskeletal pain or chronic unexplained asthenia and had a deficient serum 25(OH)D level with no signs of any other disease were enrolled in this study.

The patients received high doses of Vitamin D supplements ( 400 000 to 600 000 units ).

Before Vitamin D supplementation, the adult study cohort ( n = 49 ) had an adjusted mean serum 25(OH)D level of 23.7 nmol/l, a mean pain evaluation score of 5.07 and a mean quality of life score of 3.55.

After Vitamin D supplementation, the adjusted mean serum 25(OH)D level increased to 118.8 nmol/l ( P less than 0.001 ), the mean quality of life score increased to 2.8 nmol/l ( P less than 0.001 ) and the mean pain evaluation score decreased to 2.8 ( P less than 0.001 ).

In this small before-and-after study, Vitamin D supplementation decreased pain scores in adult patients with diffuse musculoskeletal pain and vitamin D deficiency.
These results must be confirmed by further studies. ( Xagena )

Le Goaziou MF et al, Eur J Gen Pract 2014;20:3-9

XagenaMedicine2014