Effect of supplementation of vitamin D and calcium on patients suffering from chronic non-specific musculoskeletal pain: A pre-post study

Background and Objective: Despite abundant sunshine, India is a country with high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. It has been suggested that vitamin D deficiency could be a potential cause of chronic non-specific musculoskeletal pain. The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementation of vitamin D and calcium on patients suffering with chronic non-specific musculoskeletal pain. Methodology: The experimental trial was a pre-post study conducted on 50 hypovitaminosis D patients aged 30–60 years visiting a local orthopedician or physician with complain of chronic non-specific musculoskeletal pain. Oral supplementation with vitamin D and calcium was given for 3 months. Before the intervention trial, pain, physical activity, serum vitamin D, serum calcium, body mass index and waist to hip ratio (WHR) of the respondents were assessed, which was statistically compared with post-intervention data of the same parameters. Assessment of pain was carried out using visual analog scale. Physical activity levels were compared pre and post the intervention. Also, fatigue, mood alteration, and sleep were compared. Results: Ninety percent of the subjects had vitamin D deficiency. Thirty-six percent of the subjects had severe chronic non-specific musculoskeletal pain, whereas 56% had moderate chronic non-specific musculoskeletal pain. The mean pain score prior to intervention was 6.22 which significantly decreased to 3.52. Mean vitamin D levels significantly rose from 17.38 ng/ml to 39.40 ng/ml. Serum vitamin D, serum calcium, and physical activity levels increased, whereas pain, weight, BMI, and WHR decreased significantly post-intervention. Conclusions: Supplementation with vitamin D and calcium decreases chronic non-specific musculoskeletal pain.