OBJECTIVE: To investigate vitamin D levels in patients with non-specific musculoskeletal pain, headache, and fatigue. DESIGN: A cross-sectional descriptive study. SETTING: A health center in Oslo, Norway, with a multi-ethnic population. SUBJECTS: A total of 572 patients referred by a general practitioner (GP) for an examination of hypovitaminosis D who reported musculoskeletal pain, headache, or fatigue. The patients' native countries were: Norway (n = 249), Europe, America, and South-East Asia (n = 83), and the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (n = 240). Both genders and all ages were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Vitamin D levels (25-hydroxyvitamin D) in nmol/L. RESULTS: Hypovitaminosis D (25-hydroxyvitamin D < 50 nmol/L) was found in 58% of patients. One-third of ethnic Norwegians had hypovitaminosis D, while 83% of patients from the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia had hypovitaminosis D with minimal seasonal variation of levels. One in two women from these countries had a vitamin D level below 25 nmol/L. Mean vitamin D level was lower in patients with headaches compared with patients with other symptoms. Some 15% of patients with low (< 50 nmol/L) vitamin D levels reported headaches, compared with 5% of those with normal vitamin D levels. CONCLUSION: Our study shows a high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in patients with non-specific musculoskeletal pain, headache, or fatigue for whom the GP had suspected a low vitamin D level. Hypovitaminosis D was not restricted to immigrant patients. These results indicate that GPs should maintain awareness of hypovitaminosis D and refer patients who report headaches, fatigue, and musculoskeletal pain with minimal sun exposure and a low dietary vitamin D intake for assessment.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate vitamin D levels in patients with non-specific musculoskeletal pain, headache, and fatigue. DESIGN: A cross-sectional descriptive study. SETTING: A health center in Oslo, Norway, with a multi-ethnic population. SUBJECTS: A total of 572 patients referred by a general practitioner (GP) for an examination of hypovitaminosis D who reported musculoskeletal pain, headache, or fatigue. The patients' native countries were: Norway (n = 249), Europe, America, and South-East Asia (n = 83), and the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (n = 240). Both genders and all ages were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Vitamin D levels (25-hydroxyvitamin D) in nmol/L. RESULTS:Hypovitaminosis D (25-hydroxyvitamin D < 50 nmol/L) was found in 58% of patients. One-third of ethnic Norwegians had hypovitaminosis D, while 83% of patients from the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia had hypovitaminosis D with minimal seasonal variation of levels. One in two women from these countries had a vitamin D level below 25 nmol/L. Mean vitamin D level was lower in patients with headaches compared with patients with other symptoms. Some 15% of patients with low (< 50 nmol/L) vitamin D levels reported headaches, compared with 5% of those with normal vitamin D levels. CONCLUSION: Our study shows a high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in patients with non-specific musculoskeletal pain, headache, or fatigue for whom the GP had suspected a low vitamin D level. Hypovitaminosis D was not restricted to immigrant patients. These results indicate that GPs should maintain awareness of hypovitaminosis D and refer patients who report headaches, fatigue, and musculoskeletal pain with minimal sun exposure and a low dietary vitamin D intake for assessment.
Authors: H Glerup; K Mikkelsen; L Poulsen; E Hass; S Overbeck; H Andersen; P Charles; E F Eriksen Journal: Calcif Tissue Int Date: 2000-06 Impact factor: 4.333
Authors: Heike A Bischoff-Ferrari; Edward Giovannucci; Walter C Willett; Thomas Dietrich; Bess Dawson-Hughes Journal: Am J Clin Nutr Date: 2006-07 Impact factor: 7.045
Authors: H A Bischoff-Ferrari; B Dawson-Hughes; H B Staehelin; J E Orav; A E Stuck; R Theiler; J B Wong; A Egli; D P Kiel; J Henschkowski Journal: BMJ Date: 2009-10-01