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By Pat Anson

Low levels of Vitamin D is a leading cause of disability worldwide and has been associated with fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, migraines, and musculoskeletal problems. 

A new study in India suggests the “sunshine vitamin” may also play a role in the development of chronic low back pain.

Researchers at a teaching hospital took blood samples from 75 adult patients with chronic low back pain and found a remarkably high rate of low vitamin D serum levels – a condition known as hypovitaminosis D.

Over two-thirds of the patients (69.3%) had “deficient” levels of Vitamin D, while the remaining ones had serum levels that were below normal and considered “insufficient.” 

“Notably, none of the participants had sufficient serum vitamin D levels. These findings are in agreement with existing literature reporting a high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in the Indian population, even in regions with adequate sunlight exposure,” wrote lead author SK Imran Ali, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon at Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy Hospital in Haldia. 

Previous studies have shown that Vitamin D deficiency rates on the Indian subcontinent range from 50% to as high as 95%, a phenomenon attributed to darker skin pigmentation, poor diets, and increasingly sedentary lifestyles with little sun exposure.

But while researchers found an association between chronic low back pain and hypovitaminosis D, they did not establish a causal link. Pain severity and disability levels were about equal between the “deficient” and “insufficient” groups. And since no one in the study had “normal” levels of Vitamin D, there was no control group to compare findings with.

Researchers did find that patients from the lower socioeconomic class were more likely to have the lower Vitamin D levels compared to those in the upper class.

“This observation aligns with existing evidence indicating that socioeconomic factors influence nutritional status, sun exposure, dietary quality, and access to healthcare services, all of which may affect vitamin D levels,” researchers found. “Individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds may have limited access to vitamin D-rich foods, reduced opportunities for outdoor activity, and decreased healthcare access, thereby increasing the risk of hypovitaminosis D.”  

Ultraviolet rays in sunlight are the principal source of Vitamin D for most people. Vitamin D is essential for good health because it helps maintain calcium and phosphate levels, which are essential for the formation of strong bones and teeth. Vitamin D also modulates cell growth, improves neuromuscular and immune function, and reduces inflammation.