Vitamin D May Benefit Women With Fibromyalgia

by | Mar 30, 2017 | 2013, Fibromyalgia, Vitamin D - General, Women's Health

Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. Study participants with fibromyalgia had  statistically significant lower levels of vitamin D and decreased bone density compared to control the control group. Those with vitamin D levels of 20 nanograms/mL or less also had significantly impaired short memory, mood and sleep disturbances, restless leg syndrome and rapid heart beat compared to those with vitamin D levels above 20 nanograms/mL.

fibromyalgiaFibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome usually accompanied by fatigue, headache, sleep disturbances, and depression. In 2005, fibromyalgia affected 5 million adults (90% being women 1 with healthcare costs averaging $5,945 per patient 2. As the cause of fibromyalgia remains elusive, effective treatments are sparse. But research has shown effectiveness with CoQ10 supplementation 3, avoiding chemicals in foods 4, and even with a combination of music and vibration therapy 5. Depression, a common symptom of fibromyalgia patients 6, leads to decreased physical activity 7 and increases the risk of developing osteoporosis 8.

In a 2013 case-controlled study 9, 50 women between the ages of 33 and 41 with a four-year history of fibromyalgia, had bone mineral density tests done and vitamin D blood levels measured. Bone mineral density and vitamin D blood levels were also completed for 50 age-matched women without fibromyalgia. The physical and psychological health as well as any sleep disturbances were evaluated for all participating women. Each woman was required to complete questionnaires on pain 10, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire 11 and the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire 12.

The researchers found that the women with fibromyalgia had 16.6% lower vitamin D blood levels than the control patients (15.1 versus 18.1 nanograms/milliliter, p = 0.0018). Bone density in the lumbar spine was 2% lower in the fibromyalgia group (1.02 versus 1.04 g/cm2, p = 0.0012); however, no statistical significance was reached with hip bone density (p > 0.05).

Women were then divided into two groups: those with vitamin D blood levels above 20 nanograms/mL and those with levels below 20 ng/mL. Researchers found that those with levels below 20 ng/mL were more likely to have:

  • Impaired short memory (46.4 vs. 13.6%, respectively, p = 0.0136)
  • Confusion (50 vs. 18.2%, respectively, p = 0.0199)
  • Mood disturbance (60.7 vs. 27.3%, respectively, p = 0.0185)
  • Sleep disturbance (53.6 vs. 22.7%, respectively, p = 0.0271)
  • Restless leg syndrome (57.1 vs. 27.3%, respectively, p = 0.0346)
  • Rapid heartbeat (67.9 vs. 36.4%, respectively, p = 0.0265)

They also found an inverse relationship between vitamin D blood levels and their overall pain levels (p = 0.013) and depression (p = 0.020).

For the researchers, “an early nutrition program rich in calcium and vitamin D, appropriate exercise protocols, and medical treatment should be considered in these patients in terms of preventing osteoporosis development.”

Source: Olama, Shereem Mohamed, Mohammed K. Senna, Mohammed Mohamed Elarman, and Galal Elhawary. “Serum vitamin D level and bone mineral density in premenopausal Egyptian women with fibromyalgia.” Rheumatology international 33, no. 1 (2013): 185-192.

© Springer-Verlag 2012

Posted March 30, 2017.

Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Hauppauge, NY.  You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at PitchingDoc@msn.com or visiting his web site at www.PitchingDoc.com.

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