A current study carried out at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota concluded that those with inadequate levels of vitamin D used higher amounts of pain medication. In the study researchers retrospectively studied 267 chronic pain patients who were admitted to the Pain Rehabilitation Center between February and December 2006.The vitamin D level of the subjects was measured at the time of admission and compared with other indicators such as the amount and duration of narcotic pain medication usage; self-reported levels of pain, emotional distress, physical functioning and health perception; and demographic data such as gender, age, diagnosis and body mass index. Results showed that patients with inadequate levels of vitamin D were taking much higher doses of pain medication that was nearly twice as much as those with adequate levels of vitamin D. In addition, this group self reported worst physical functioning, and worse overall health perception. The researchers concluded that further research should document the effects of correcting deficient levels among these individuals.
Tags: chronic pain, Mayo Clinic, research, vitamin D