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Could vitamin D be the secret to helping your fibromyalgia pain? A study was published in a recent article of PAIN magazine that explains the effects of vitamin D supplements on sufferers of fibromyalgia who also suffer from vitamin D deficiency.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disease characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, sleep disorders, morning stiffness, and poor concentration. Although there is no cure for fibromyalgia, scientists and researchers from across the world are united in the quest to treat it.
The mysterious disease has left doctors scratching their heads for many years, but luckily the science is finally catching up. And it’s about time.
The researchers were interested in testing the effect of vitamin D supplements for fibromyalgia sufferers after discovering low levels of calcifediol in the blood of chronic pain patients. Calcifediol is prehormone produced in the liver, which is converted to vitamin D in the body. Their hypothesis was that if patient supplemented their vitamin D intake, it would lead to less overall pain.
To test the hypothesis, researchers gave a group of women an oral supplement of cholecalciferol dosed between 32 and 48 ng/ml for 25 weeks. A control group was given a placebo supplement so researchers could test the true effects of the cholecalciferol.
Before treatment began, the women were given a standard survey, called the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), that asked them to describe their current struggles with memory, fatigue, sleep loss, pain, muscle stiffness, and overall well-being.
When the 25-week cycle was complete, the women were given the FIQ again. The results showed that women in the cholecalciferol supplement group showed marked improvement in perceived pain when compared to their counterparts in the control group. Unfortunately, there was no significant difference in levels of depression or anxiety.
The results are promising for the fibromyalgia community because they deliver a cost-effective alternative to typical pain medications. The most important thing to remember is that your doctor should be notified if you’re interested in utilizing vitamin D to help control your fibromyalgia pain.
Would you ever consider taking cholecalciferol supplements as an alternative to traditional pain medicines? If so, let us know in the comments why you think it’s a good idea!
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