Vitamin D deficiency and its role in Chronic Nonspecific Musculoskeletal Pain

Pain is a universal and costly medical health problem. It is estimated that approximately one in ten individuals develop chronic pain each year. Chronic pain is among the top 10 complaints for which individuals seek help from primary care health professionals. In spite of its prevalence, doctors report a lack of confidence in managing chronic painful conditions. Moreover, the use of opioids for non-malignant chronic pain has increased recently and has become more regulated. Not surprisingly there is a high demand for alternative treatment options for managing chronic pain.

Chronic nonspecific musculoskeletal pain (CNMP) is a type of chronic pain, marked by the absence of a clear patho-physiological or anatomical origin. CNMP causes major disruption to patients’ lives, relationships, and functionality. A rising prevalence of CNMP is observed in the general population but especially in children and adolescents. A diagnosis of CNMP early in life is recognized as a predictor for disability later. The limited information on its etiology, diagnosis and management perplexes doctors and patients alike.