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Does vitamin D supplementation alleviate chronic nonspecific musculoskeletal pain? A systematic review and meta-analysis

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Abstract

Chronic nonspecific musculoskeletal pain (CNMP) is an idiopathic condition often seen in general practice and rheumatology clinics, the aetiology of which may include vitamin D deficiency. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation in the management of CNMP through a systematic review and meta-analysis. According to PRISMA guidelines, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane and Scopus electronic databases were searched for randomised controlled trials comparing vitamin D supplementation to a control or placebo in CNMP patients; the search was not limited by language or date. Meta-analysis was performed using the mean and standardised mean difference which was computed with 95 % confidence intervals, and overall effect size was calculated. Both fixed and random effects models were used in meta-analysis to account for heterogeneity in the studies. The initial search identified 107 studies, of which 10 were potentially relevant, with 7 studies excluded because they did not meet selection criteria. Three studies were included in the meta-analysis. We found no effect of vitamin D supplementation (standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.004; 95 % confidence interval (CI) −0.248 to 0.256) on pain in CNMP patients. Forest plot is used to present the results from meta-analysis. Contrary to a widespread clinical view, there is a moderate level of evidence that vitamin D supplementation is not helpful for treating CNMP patients.

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Acknowledgments

MG is funded by Australian Postgraduate Award for her PhD. MNM is funded by John Lynch’s NHMRC Australian Fellow funding (ID 478115). GLM is supported by a Principal Research Fellowship from the NHMRC ID 1061279.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Discipline of General Practice, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Level 11, Terrace Towers, 178 North Terrace, Adelaide, 5005, Australia

    M. Gaikwad, S. Vanlint & N. Stocks

  2. School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Level 7, Terrace Towers, 178 North Terrace, Adelaide, 5005, Australia

    M. Mittinity

  3. Sansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, Centenary Building C5-7, City East Campus, Adelaide, 5000, Australia

    G. L. Moseley

Authors
  1. M. Gaikwad
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  2. S. Vanlint
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  4. G. L. Moseley
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  5. N. Stocks
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Correspondence to M. Gaikwad.

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Conflict of interest

MG, SV, MM and NS declare that they have no conflict of interest. GLM—Noigroup Publications royalties, speaker’s fees and Pfizer consultancy. This research received no grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

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Gaikwad, M., Vanlint, S., Mittinity, M. et al. Does vitamin D supplementation alleviate chronic nonspecific musculoskeletal pain? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Rheumatol 36, 1201–1208 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-016-3205-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-016-3205-1

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