Effect of Monthly Vitamin D on Chronic Pain Among Community-Dwelling Seniors: A Randomized, Double-Blind Controlled Trial

With advancing age, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and musculoskeletal pain increases. However, published data on the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation in reducing chronic pain are inconclusive. The purpose of this study was to test the effect of 3 different monthly doses of vitamin D on chronic pain in seniors 70 years and older with a prior fall event. 1-year, double-blind randomized clinical trial. The trial was conducted in Zurich, Switzerland. Participants were 200 community-dwelling men and women 70 years and older with a prior fall. Three study groups with monthly treatments were randomized to either a low-dose control group of vitamin D (24,000 IU vitamin D3/mo), a high dose of vitamin D3 (60,000 IU vitamin D3/mo), or a combination of calcifediol and vitamin D3 (24,000 IU vitamin D3 plus 300 μg calcifediol/mo). The primary endpoint was the change in the mean number of painful areas using the McGill Pain map over 12 months of follow-up. All analyses were adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, 25-hydroxyvitamin (OH)D3 levels, and pain scores at baseline. A predefined subgroup analysis was performed by baseline 25(OH)D status (