Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by widespread tender points throughout the body, morning stiffness, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, and numbness and tingling in the hands and feet. Fibromyalgia is not regarded as an autoimmune disease, though some symptoms may overlap with those typical of autoimmune conditions. Scientific evidence has been divided regarding a connection between fibromyalgia and vitamin D levels, with some studies finding a correlation and other studies finding no association between vitamin D levels and fibromyalgia symptoms.
Nonspecific Muscle Pain
Vitamin D deficiency may be associated with several forms of nonspecific muscle and joint pain, particularly in women, say authors of the study published in the October 2010 issue of the "International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases." The study surveyed 276 patients with different types of muscle and joint pain, including fibromyalgia. Vitamin D deficiency was more prevalent in patients with leg pain, arthralgia and widespread pain, but was not associated with low back pain or fibromyalgia, in this study. The researchers noted a greater association between low vitamin D and muscle and joint pain in women than in men.
Pain Levels
A study published in the December 2010 issue of the "Journal of Clinical Rheumatology" found that low to moderate levels of vitamin D insufficiency were not associated with fibromyalgia. The study compared vitamin D levels in 87 fibromyalgia patients with a similar number of participants without fibromyalgia. Researchers found no association between vitamin D levels and pain levels, in this study.
Inflammatory Markers
A study of vitamin D levels in a variety of autoimmune and chronic conditions published in 2009 in the journal "Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences" found a strong association between vitamin D levels and autoimmune conditions and inflammatory markers. In the study, blood levels of vitamin D and markers of inflammation were measured in 100 patients with chronic, autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. While a strong association was seen between vitamin D levels and these conditions, inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein and creatine kinase, were not similarly associated. The researchers concluded that vitamin D level is a useful marker in autoimmune conditions.
Management Guidelines
A study published in the September 2008 issue of the journal "Rheumatology" reported that, in a survey of patients with osteoporosis or general arthritis, vitamin D levels were lower in those with arthritis and chronic pain, such as fibromyalgia, than in the osteoporosis group. The researchers also noted that according to their selection criteria, only 31 percent of study participants with vitamin D levels below 50 nmol/L fit their criteria for high risk of vitamin D deficiency. They concluded that improved guidelines for managing vitamin D levels in arthritis are needed.
References
- "International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases"; Association Between Nonspecific Skeletal Pain and Vitamin D Deficiency; B. Heidari et al.; 2010
- "Journal of Clinical Rheumatology"; Evaluation of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Serum Levels in Patients With Fibromyalgial; C. de Rezende Pena et al.; 2010
- "Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences"; Vitamin D Metabolites as Clinical Markers in Autoimmune and Chronic Disease; G.P. Blaney et al.; 2009
- " Rheumatology"; Hypovitaminosis D Among Rheumatology Outpatients in Clinical Practice; M. Mouyis et al.; 2008
