Are vitamin D levels related to back pain?

In a recent study published in the journal nutrientsGerman researchers conducted a large cohort of the United Kingdom (UK) Biobank to examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between vitamin D status or vitamin D supplement use and the incidence of low back pain. I investigated.

Study: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status and vitamin D supplement use are not associated with low back pain in a large UK biobank cohort. Image credit: FotoHelin / Shutterstock

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Because vitamin D is essential for musculoskeletal health, muscle function, and bone mineralization, vitamin D deficiency is a significant public health problem worldwide. Studies have reported that more than 90% of patients with diseases related to the musculoskeletal system have low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, which is the most common standard for measuring vitamin D concentration in the body. It’s an accurate method. Vitamin D also acts as an anti-inflammatory and helps regulate pain. Therefore, people with low serum vitamin D levels often suffer from a variety of chronic pain conditions.

Of the many chronic pain conditions, low back pain is thought to be associated with the longest period of living with disability worldwide. According to 2017 health statistics, nearly 8% of the world’s population suffers from back pain, and the number is rapidly increasing. A variety of factors can cause low back pain, including injury, sedentary lifestyle, genetics, occupational causes, and psychosocial issues, but the role of vitamin D in relieving low back pain remains largely unknown. yeah.

About research

In this study, researchers utilized a substantial UK Biobank cohort and used longitudinal and cross-sectional data to determine whether 25-hydroxyvitamin D or vitamin D supplementation levels are associated with low back pain. Examined.

Participants comprised adults aged 40 to 69 from centers in Scotland, England and Wales. Their biomedical information was obtained through multiple methods, including questionnaires, interviews, functional and physical assessments, and clinical analysis of saliva, urine, and blood samples.

Vitamin D status is determined based on serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and deficiency is defined as a 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of less than 30 nmol per liter and a concentration of 30 to 50 nmol per liter. It is considered vitamin D deficient. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels >50 nmol per liter were considered sufficient. A baseline visit questionnaire allowed researchers to obtain data on multivitamin and vitamin D supplement use.

Primary care records were used to obtain information regarding low back pain diagnosis and date of diagnosis. Baseline visit diagnosis was used for cross-sectional analysis, and low back pain cases diagnosed during follow-up were used for longitudinal analysis. A questionnaire was also used to determine self-reported low back pain, and this data was combined with physician low back pain diagnoses to determine exposure variables.

The analysis considered a wide range of covariates that may have a statistically significant association with vitamin D deficiency. These include BMI, sociodemographic factors, biomarkers, lifestyle characteristics, and diseases. Covariates explicitly related to vitamin D levels were also included in the analysis, such as seasonality, geographical latitude of the recruitment center, and calendar month in which the blood sample was collected.

result

The results showed that low back pain was not associated with serum vitamin D levels or the use of vitamin D supplements. The researchers believe that this lack of a significant association is likely due to the multifactorial nature of low back pain.

Cross-sectional analyzes showed significant associations between low back pain, serum vitamin D concentrations, and vitamin D supplement use, but adjusting for various confounders diminished the significance of these associations. It was not maintained. In a longitudinal analysis, no association was found between the use of vitamin D supplements or serum vitamin D levels and the incidence of low back pain.

Researchers say vitamin D plays an important role in musculoskeletal health and reducing inflammation, but back pain can result from a variety of factors, including sedentary habits, injuries, and occupations that require unhealthy posture. He said it was possible. Other comorbidities and genetic reasons can also cause back pain. Therefore, the role of vitamin D in reducing low back pain should be investigated with respect to the specific etiology of the condition.

conclusion

In conclusion, the results of this study showed that serum vitamin D levels or use of vitamin D supplements were not found to be associated with low back pain, likely due to the multifactorial nature of low back pain.