The mystery surrounding the cause or causes of fibromyalgia makes treatment a difficult matter. Building off established research on the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in people with chronic pain conditions, researchers recently hypothesized that supplementation may ease pain in those with fibromyalgia.
Vitamin D and Pain
Vitamin D plays many roles in the body. Most notably, it allows the body to absorb calcium, which plays a role in the strength of bones and in muscles' ability to contract. The vitamin also helps modulate the inflammatory response among many other duties.
One of the primary symptoms of vitamin D deficiency is aches and pains in muscles and joints. If the condition persists for a long time, it can lead to bone pain resulting from improper mineralization.
Widespread pain in muscles and joints is also a primary symptom of fibromyalgia. This doesn't mean that vitamin deficiency is the cause of fibromyalgia; plenty of patients with the condition have normal levels of vitamin D. But, given that low levels of this nutrient are common among those with chronic pain, supplementation may be beneficial to those whose levels test low.
Fibromyalgia and Supplementation
A very small pilot study of 30 women with low levels of vitamin D compared pain levels, function scores and morning fatigue among other measures of women who received supplementation to scores for women who received a placebo. The women took either a supplement or a placebo for 25 weeks. Their scores were retaken at this time, and then again 24 weeks after treatment was stopped.
After the 25 weeks of treatment, the supplementation group showed significant improvements in functioning and morning fatigue scores, compared to no or little change in the placebo group. At the final follow-up 24 weeks after treatment, the supplementation group showed significant improvements in perceived pain scores.
See more on the study at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140117090504.htm.
Limitations
Studies that are as small as this one should be taken with a grain of salt. That said, vitamin D is cheap, accessible, easy and safe when taken properly. Also, the literature on the link between pain and vitamin D is by no means limited to this study. That means, for those with low levels, supplementation may be a worthwhile component of treatment.
Keep in mind that the study period lasted almost a year. This indicates that supplementation is not going to change your world overnight. Generally, chronic pain treatment takes time and patience, no matter what treatment methods you use.
For more on chronic pain and vitamin D, see http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3347929/.
Safe choices for pain management solutions exist. Educate yourself in alternative solutions for back pain management. Please ask questions, give comments or stories related to this article submission regarding back pain management.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amee_LaTour
Vitamin D and Pain
Vitamin D plays many roles in the body. Most notably, it allows the body to absorb calcium, which plays a role in the strength of bones and in muscles' ability to contract. The vitamin also helps modulate the inflammatory response among many other duties.
One of the primary symptoms of vitamin D deficiency is aches and pains in muscles and joints. If the condition persists for a long time, it can lead to bone pain resulting from improper mineralization.
Widespread pain in muscles and joints is also a primary symptom of fibromyalgia. This doesn't mean that vitamin deficiency is the cause of fibromyalgia; plenty of patients with the condition have normal levels of vitamin D. But, given that low levels of this nutrient are common among those with chronic pain, supplementation may be beneficial to those whose levels test low.
Fibromyalgia and Supplementation
A very small pilot study of 30 women with low levels of vitamin D compared pain levels, function scores and morning fatigue among other measures of women who received supplementation to scores for women who received a placebo. The women took either a supplement or a placebo for 25 weeks. Their scores were retaken at this time, and then again 24 weeks after treatment was stopped.
After the 25 weeks of treatment, the supplementation group showed significant improvements in functioning and morning fatigue scores, compared to no or little change in the placebo group. At the final follow-up 24 weeks after treatment, the supplementation group showed significant improvements in perceived pain scores.
See more on the study at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140117090504.htm.
Limitations
Studies that are as small as this one should be taken with a grain of salt. That said, vitamin D is cheap, accessible, easy and safe when taken properly. Also, the literature on the link between pain and vitamin D is by no means limited to this study. That means, for those with low levels, supplementation may be a worthwhile component of treatment.
Keep in mind that the study period lasted almost a year. This indicates that supplementation is not going to change your world overnight. Generally, chronic pain treatment takes time and patience, no matter what treatment methods you use.
For more on chronic pain and vitamin D, see http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3347929/.
Safe choices for pain management solutions exist. Educate yourself in alternative solutions for back pain management. Please ask questions, give comments or stories related to this article submission regarding back pain management.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amee_LaTour
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