Is hypovitaminosis D associated with fibromyalgia? A systematic review

Abstract

Context Recent findings have suggested a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency in fibromyalgia (FM) patients despite the lack of clinical and pathophysiological evidence. Objective A systematic review was conducted to examine the association between vitamin D status and FM, including the effect of vitamin D supplementation. Data source PubMed, LILACS, Scopus, SciELO, Cochrane, and EMBASE were searched, from January 2000 to July 2018, using the descriptors “Fibromyalgia” and “Vitamin D.” Study selection Trials including FM patients in whom vitamin D levels were assessed were eligible for inclusion. Data extraction Data comprised age, gender, country, aims, bias, diagnosis criteria, cutoff point, and status of vitamin D, together with FM symptoms and vitamin D supplementation protocol. Results A total of 26 articles were selected. Most of the studies were found to present unreliable control groups and small samples. Experimental data on vitamin D supplementation indicated improvement in certain FM symptoms. Conclusion Prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in the FM population and the cause-effect relationship were inconclusive. Nevertheless, vitamin D supplementation may be considered as a co-adjuvant in FM therapy.

Comparison between Acupuncture and Nutraceutical Treatment with Migratens® in Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial

“…In some systematic reviews, a correlation between vitamin D deficiency and fibromyalgia was determined, whereas its role in the pathophysiology and its clinical relevance requires further controlled studies [12,49]. More recent reviews reported as inconclusive the relationship between hypovitaminosis D and FMS, although vitamin D supplementation was considered as a co-adjuvant in FMS therapy [50]. Finally, although it is known that the absorption of B group vitamins like niacin and riboflavin is reduced by psychological factors, stress, and the use of sleeping-inducing drugs (which is common in FMS patients) [51], there are no studies in the literature about the efficacy of these supplementations in fibromyalgia patients.…”

Serum vitamin D level discriminates between the primary and the associated clinical manifestations of fibromyalgia

“…1 FM patients are usually responded to the vitamin D supplementation which can consider as a co-adjuvant nutraceutical in FM therapy. 2 Vitamin D supplementation of 50000UI weekly for 8 weeks improved the scores of the questionnaires that related to the fibromyalgia, sleep, pain, but not the quality of life as assessed by short Form-36 in FM patients with low vitamin D levels of insufficient category. 3 Moreover, vitamin D supplementation of 50000 UI once weekly for 12 weeks non-significantly reduced the number of tender points in FM patients with insufficient category of serum vitamin D. 4 Interestingly, vitamin D supplementation improves non-significantly the score of widespread pain which is not Backgrounds and objective: Recent research focus of the association of low serum vitamin D level with the fibromyalgia.…”

The Role of Nutrient Supplementation in the Management of Chronic Pain in Fibromyalgia: A Narrative Review

“…The connection between vitamin D and FM has been widely studied [107][108][109][110][111][112][113][114][115][116][117][118][119][120][121]. However, the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and FM is controversial among literature.…”