PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Schreuder, Ferdinand
AU  - Bernsen, Roos M. D.
AU  - van der Wouden, Johannes C.
TI  - Vitamin D Supplementation for Nonspecific Musculoskeletal Pain in Non-Western Immigrants: A Randomized Controlled Trial
AID  - 10.1370/afm.1402
DP  - 2012 Nov 01
TA  - The Annals of Family Medicine
PG  - 547--555
VI  - 10
IP  - 6
4099  - http://www.annfammed.org/content/10/6/547.short
4100  - http://www.annfammed.org/content/10/6/547.full
SO  - Ann Fam Med2012 Nov 01; 10
AB  - PURPOSE Many non-Western immigrants report musculoskeletal pains that are hard to treat. We studied the effect of high-dose vitamin D3 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 D3 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 D3 on persistent nonspecific musculoskeletal pain. Future research should focus on longer follow-up, higher supplementation doses, and mental health.