RESEARCH - Chronic pain linked to low vitamin D

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From Medscape Medical News

Gandey

Chronic Pain Linked to Low Vitamin D

March 25, 2009 — Inadequate vitamin D may represent an underrecognized

source of nociperception and impaired neuromuscular functioning, say

researchers.

" Physicians who care for patients with chronic, diffuse pain that

seems musculoskeletal — and involves many areas of tenderness to

palpation — should strongly consider checking vitamin-D level, "

, MD, from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, said

in a news release issued Friday.

" For example, " he added, " many patients who have been labeled with

fibromyalgia are, in fact, suffering from symptomatic vitamin-D

inadequacy. Vigilance is especially required when risk factors are

present, such as obesity, darker pigmented skin, or limited exposure

to sunlight. "

Dr. was lead investigator of a study published in the journal

Pain Medicine in November 2008. The work suggests a correlation

between inadequate vitamin-D levels and the amount of narcotic

medication taken by chronic pain patients.

Required Nearly Twice As Much Pain Medication

The researchers found that patients who had inadequate vitamin-D

levels and required narcotic pain medication were taking much higher

doses — nearly twice as much — as those with adequate levels. These

patients also reported worse physical function and worse overall

health perception.

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Read the full article here:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/590151

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