Pain is the most common complaint leading patients to seek medical care and much of it is chronic, lasting 3 months or longer. According to an extensive review of clinical research in a new report from Pain Treatment Topics, inadequate Vitamin D intake has been linked to a long list of chronic painful maladies, including bone and joint pain of various types, muscle pain, fibromyalgia syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, rheumatic disorders, osteoarthritis, and other complaints. Lack of Vitamin D also has been implicated in the mood disturbances of chronic fatigue syndrome and seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
According to Stewart B. Leavitt, MA, PhD, editor of Pain Treatment Topics and author of the report, “our examination of the research, including 22 clinical investigations of patients with various chronic pain and fatigue syndromes, found that these persons almost always had inadequate levels of Vitamin D. When sufficient Vitamin D supplementation was provided, the aches, pains, weakness, and related problems in most of them either vanished or were at least helped to a significant extent.”
The report, “Vitamin D– A Neglected ‘Analgesic’ for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain,” was peer-reviewed by a panel of 8 experts and includes the following important points:
- Vitamin D is a complex nutrient that functions as a hormone to benefit numerous body tissues and organs, including bones, muscles, and nerves.
- A surprising majority of persons in many parts of the world, including the United States, do not get adequate Vitamin D from sun exposure or foods. Why such deficiencies are associated with pain in some persons but not others is not always known.
- The currently recommended adequate intake of Vitamin D – up to 600 IU per day – is outdated and too low. According to the research, most children and adults need at least 1000 IU per day, and persons with chronic musculoskeletal pain would benefit from 2000 IU or more per day of supplemental vitamin D3 (also called cholecalciferol).
- Vitamin Dsupplements have a highly favorable safety profile. They interact with very few drugs or other agents, and are usually not harmful unless extremely high doses – such as, 50,000 IU or more – are taken daily for an extended period of time.
- Vitamin D supplements are easy for patients to self-administer, are well tolerated, and typically cost as little as 7 to 10 cents per day.
Besides the comprehensive *Research Report (50-pages, 170 references), there is available a shorter *Practitioner Briefing (7-pages) that summarizes the report and provides guidance for healthcare providers. Additionally, a special *Patient Brochure (6-pages) explains what Vitamin D is, how it works, and how it may help in relieving pain.
In conclusion, Leavitt stresses that Vitamin D should not be viewed as a cure for all pain conditions and in all patients. It also is not necessarily a replacement for other pain treatments. “While further research would be helpful,” he says, “current best evidence indicates that recommending supplemental Vitamin D for patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain and fatigue disorders would do no harm and could do much good at little cost. It should be considered by healthcare providers for their patients early in the course of pain management.”
About Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble prohormones (meaning that it has no hormone activity itself, but is converted to the active hormone 1,25-D through a tightly regulated synthesis mechanism.). The two major forms are vitamin D2 (or ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (or cholecalciferol). The term vitamin D also refers to metabolites and other analogues of these substances. Vitamin D3 is produced in skin exposed to sunlight, specifically ultraviolet B radiation.
Vitamin D plays an important role in the maintenance of organ systems.- Vitamin D regulates the calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood by promoting their absorption from food in the intestines, and by promoting re-absorption of calcium in the kidneys.
- It is also needed for bone growth and bone remodeling by osteoblasts and osteoclasts . Without sufficientVitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle, or misshapen.However, at very high levels it will promote the resorption of bone.
- It inhibits parathyroid hormone secretion from the parathyroid gland.
- Vitamin D affects the immune system by promoting phagocytosis, anti-tumor activity, and immunomodulatory functions.
- Vitamin D has other roles in human health, including modulation of neuromuscular and immune function and reduction of inflammation. Many genes encoding proteins that regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis are modulated in part by Vitamin D.
- Vitamin D1: molecular compound of ergocalciferol with lumisterol, 1:1
- Vitamin D2: ergocalciferol or calciferol (made from ergosterol)
- Vitamin D3: cholecalciferol (made from 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin).
- Vitamin D4: 22-dihydroergocalciferol
- Vitamin D5: sitocalciferol (made from 7-dehydrositosterol)