TY - JOUR
T1 - Musculoskeletal pain is associated with very low levels of vitamin D in men: results from the European Male Ageing Study
AU - McBeth, John
AU - Pye, Stephen R.
AU - O'Neill, Terence W.
AU - Macfarlane, Gary J.
AU - Tajar, Abdelouahid
AU - Bartfai, Gyorgy
AU - Boonen, Steven
AU - Bouillon, Roger
AU - Casanueva, Felipe
AU - Finn, Joseph D.
AU - Forti, Gianni
AU - Giwercman, Aleksander
AU - Han, Thang S.
AU - Huhtaniemi, Ilpo T.
AU - Kula, Krzysztof
AU - Lean, Michael E. J.
AU - Pendleton, Neil
AU - Punab, Margus
AU - Silman, Alan J.
AU - Vanderschueren, Dirk
AU - Wu, Frederick C. W.
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Introduction A study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that musculoskeletal pain is associated with low vitamin D levels but the relationship is explained by physical inactivity and/or other putative confounding factors. Methods Men aged 40-79 years completed a postal questionnaire including a pain assessment and attended a clinical assessment (lifestyle questionnaire, physical performance tests, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-(OH) D) levels from fasting blood sample). Subjects were classified according to 25-(OH) D levels as 'normal' (>= 15 ng/ml) or 'low' (<15 ng/ml). The relationship between pain status and 25-(OH) D levels was assessed using logistic regression. Results are expressed as ORs and 95% CIs. Results 3075 men of mean (SD) age 60 (11) years were included in the analysis. 1262 (41.0%) subjects were pain-free, 1550 (50.4%) reported 'other pain' that did not satisfy criteria for chronic widespread pain (CWP) and 263 (8.6%) reported CWP. Compared with patients who were pain-free, those with 'other pain' and CWP had lower 25-(OH) D levels (n = 239 (18.9%), n = 361 (23.3) and n = 67 (24.1%), respectively, p < 0.05). After adjusting for age, having 'other pain' was associated with a 30% increase in the odds of having low 25-(OH) D while CWP was associated with a 50% increase. These relationships persisted after adjusting for physical activity levels. Adjusting for additional lifestyle factors (body mass index, smoking and alcohol use) and depression attenuated these relationships, although pain remained moderately associated with increased odds of 20% of having low vitamin D levels. Conclusions These findings have implications at a population level for the long-term health of individuals with musculoskeletal pain.
AB - Introduction A study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that musculoskeletal pain is associated with low vitamin D levels but the relationship is explained by physical inactivity and/or other putative confounding factors. Methods Men aged 40-79 years completed a postal questionnaire including a pain assessment and attended a clinical assessment (lifestyle questionnaire, physical performance tests, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-(OH) D) levels from fasting blood sample). Subjects were classified according to 25-(OH) D levels as 'normal' (>= 15 ng/ml) or 'low' (<15 ng/ml). The relationship between pain status and 25-(OH) D levels was assessed using logistic regression. Results are expressed as ORs and 95% CIs. Results 3075 men of mean (SD) age 60 (11) years were included in the analysis. 1262 (41.0%) subjects were pain-free, 1550 (50.4%) reported 'other pain' that did not satisfy criteria for chronic widespread pain (CWP) and 263 (8.6%) reported CWP. Compared with patients who were pain-free, those with 'other pain' and CWP had lower 25-(OH) D levels (n = 239 (18.9%), n = 361 (23.3) and n = 67 (24.1%), respectively, p < 0.05). After adjusting for age, having 'other pain' was associated with a 30% increase in the odds of having low 25-(OH) D while CWP was associated with a 50% increase. These relationships persisted after adjusting for physical activity levels. Adjusting for additional lifestyle factors (body mass index, smoking and alcohol use) and depression attenuated these relationships, although pain remained moderately associated with increased odds of 20% of having low vitamin D levels. Conclusions These findings have implications at a population level for the long-term health of individuals with musculoskeletal pain.
U2 - 10.1136/ard.2009.116053
DO - 10.1136/ard.2009.116053
M3 - Article
C2 - 20498201
SN - 1468-2060
VL - 69
SP - 1448
EP - 1452
JO - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
JF - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
IS - 8
ER -