Vitamin D supplementation for nonspecific musculoskeletal pain in non-western immigrants: A randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE Many non-Western immigrants report musculoskeletal pains that are hard to treat. We studied the effect of high-dose vitamin D3 on nonspecifi c persistent musculoskeletal complaints in vitamin D–defi cient non-Western immigrants and assessed correlation of pain patterns with benefi t. 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 nonspecifi c 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 fi rst 6 weeks. RESULTS Patients in the vitamin D group were signifi cantly 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 nonsignifi cant 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 nonspecifi c musculoskeletal pain. Future research should focus on longer follow-up, higher supplementation doses, and mental health.

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