Mayo Clinic research shows a correlation between inadequate vitamin D levels and the amount of narcotic medication taken by patients who have chronic pain.

This correlation is an important finding as researchers discover new ways to treat chronic pain. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, chronic pain is the leading cause of disability in the United States. These patients often end up taking narcotic-type pain medication such as morphine, fentanyl or oxycodone.

This study found that patients who required narcotic pain medication, and who also had inadequate levels of vitamin D, were taking much higher doses of pain medication — nearly twice as much — as those who had adequate levels. Similarly, these patients self-reported worse physical functioning and worse overall health perception. In addition, a correlation was noted between increasing body mass index (a measure of obesity) and decreasing levels of vitamin D. Study results were published in a recent edition of Pain Medicine.

"This is an important finding as we continue to investigate the causes of chronic pain," says Michael Turner, M.D., a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician at Mayo Clinic and lead author of the study. "Vitamin D is known to promote both bone and muscle strength. Conversely, deficiency is an under-recognized source of diffuse pain and impaired neuromuscular functioning. By recognizing it, physicians can significantly improve their patients' pain, function and quality of life."

Researchers retrospectively studied 267 chronic pain patients admitted to the Mayo Comprehensive Pain Rehabilitation Center in Rochester from February to December 2006. Vitamin D levels at the time of admission were compared to other parameters such as the amount and duration of narcotic pain medication usage; self-reported levels of pain, emotional distress, physical functioning and health perception; and demographic information such as gender, age, diagnosis and body mass index.

Further research should document the effects of correcting deficient levels among these patients, researchers recommend.

This study has important implications for both chronic pain patients and physicians. "Though preliminary, these results suggest that patients who suffer from chronic, diffuse pain and are on narcotics should consider getting their vitamin D levels checked. Inadequate levels may play a role in creating or sustaining their pain," says Dr. Turner.

"Physicians who care for patients with chronic, diffuse pain that seems musculoskeletal — and involves many areas of tenderness to palpation — should strongly consider checking a vitamin D level," he says. "For example, many patients who have been labeled with fibromyalgia are, in fact, suffering from symptomatic vitamin D inadequacy. Vigilance is especially required when risk factors are present such as obesity, darker pigmented skin or limited exposure to sunlight."

Assessment and treatment are relatively simple and inexpensive. Levels can be assessed by a simple blood test (25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]). Under the guidance of a physician, an appropriate repletion regimen can then be devised. Because it is a natural substance and not a drug, vitamin D is readily available and inexpensive.

In addition to the benefits of strong muscles and bones, emerging research demonstrates that vitamin D plays important roles in the immune system, helps fight inflammation and helps fights certain types of cancer.

Other study authors from Mayo Clinic include W. Michael Hooten, M.D., Department of Anesthesiology; John Schmidt, Ph.D., Department of Anesthesiology Research; and Jennifer Kerkvliet, Cynthia O. Townsend, Ph.D., and Barbara Bruce, Ph.D., all from the Pain Rehabilitation Center.

Mayo Clinic is the first and largest integrated, not-for-profit group practice in the world. Doctors from every medical specialty work together to care for patients, joined by common systems and a philosophy of "the needs of the patient come first." More than 3,300 physicians, scientists and researchers and 46,000 allied health staff work at Mayo Clinic, which has sites in Rochester, Minn., Jacksonville, Fla., and Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz. Collectively, the three locations treat more than half a million people each year. To obtain the latest news releases from Mayo Clinic, go to www.mayoclinic.org/news. MayoClinic.com (www.mayoclinic.com) is available as a resource for your health stories. For more on Mayo Clinic research, go to www.mayo.edu.

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written by Ann, April 25, 2009

I was deficient/tested in Vitamin D and upon taking supplements, my muscle pain level decreased and other issues improved (nerve related). Still, I had some muscle stiffness and some inflammation that went away with probiotics (adding lactic acid), relieving me of the fibromyalgia-type pain. The lactic acid was key to a pain-free situation. It's hard for me to know exactly which remedied what, as I started both about a month apart and everything got better over time. I started to feel really normal again after 4 months of using both.

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written by Jo, April 30, 2009

Thanks for this info. I've just been diagnosed as deficient in vit D after 30 years of pain - 10 years diagnosed as fibromyalgia. Fingers crossed that supplements may help. Will try the probiotic as well.

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written by Sangeetha, May 07, 2009

Hey Matthew, this is Sangeetha from Bobcares. I chanced upon your website and found it an interesting read. I suffer from FM too, and this Vit D news is very welcome news. I'm gonna check and get started on Vit D supplements. Thanks for the info.

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written by Maff, May 07, 2009

Hi everyone, I'm glad you're finding this information so useful. Although I suffer from CFS rather than fibromyalgia and don't have the severe pain, I've found vitamin D supplementation very useful in other respects, particularly for elevating mood. Vitamin D is a very powerful chemical within the body whose wideranging effects are only beginning to be uncovered.

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written by DonnaO, May 11, 2010

I just recently found out from my doc that i have a vitamin d defeciency as well as iron and vitamin b-12 defeciency...i had been feeling very sluggish, no energy whatsoever, anxiety/panic attacks, muscle aches and stiffness and fast, irregular heartbeats. All tests that have been done on my heart have come out normal, all they could find was these defeciency's. He just started me on Vitamin D 50000IU once a week for 8 weeks then once a month after that. That seems like alot and I'm very nervous about taking the supplement. Has anyone every taken this and did it caue any side affects? I'm the type of person that has a very hard time making myself take a new medication, scared that it's going to cause another symptom! I'm just ready to get my life back and feel better and be able to keep up with my kiddo's! Thanks in advance!

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written by shweta raghav, November 11, 2010

m a 20 yr old indian girl suffering from chronic pain from last 4 yrs......now diagnosed as fm......very hopeless n dun noe wat to do.........can anyone help please???

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