According to a new study, approximately one in four patients who
suffer from chronic pain also have inadequate blood levels of vitamin
D, possibly contributing to their ongoing pain. Patients lacking
sufficient vitamin D also required higher doses of morphine for a
longer period of time.

Researchers recorded the serum vitamin D levels of 267 adults
undergoing outpatient treatment for chronic pain, as well as their
pain medication (morphine) dose and duration of use, and physical and
general health functioning. Interesting data emerged about the trend
to see less severe pain in those who had normal Vitamin D levels.

Of the patients tested, 26 percent had a vitamin D inadequacy. Among
these patients with the low level of D, the morphine dose was nearly
twice that of the group with adequate levels of the vitamin. In
addition, the vitamin D inadequacy group used morphine for an average
of 71.1 months versus 43.8 months. In the self-reporting section of
the study, the vitamin D deficient group also reported lower levels of
physical functioning and had a poorer view of their overall health.

It has long been known that inadequate levels of vitamin D can cause
pain and muscle weakness, according to the study author, W. Michael
Hooten, M.D. (Medical Director, Mayo Comprehensive Pain Rehabilitation
Center, Rochester, Minnesota).

However, "this is the first time that we have established the
prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy among a diverse group of chronic
pain patients," Dr. Hooten said. Previous studies suggested that pain-
related symptoms of vitamin D inadequacy respond poorly to pain
medications.

"The implications are that in chronic pain patients, vitamin D
inadequacy is not the principal cause of pain and muscle weakness,
however, it could be a contributing but unrecognized factor," Dr.
Hooten said. Patients who experience chronic pain that does not see
the usual reduction with medications should be checked for Vitamin D
level.

Vitamin D inadequacy can be "easily and inexpensively" treated "with
essentially no side effects" using a prescription supplement, once or
twice a week for four to six weeks, Dr. Hooten said. Further study is
needed to determine whether treating inadequate vitamin D levels will
result in improvements to the overall general health for patients with
chronic pain.

Dave

Full text article above extracted from http://shamvswham.blogspot.com/

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