Nutrients, Vol. 17, Pages 3232: Does Vitamin D Supplementation Impact Fibromyalgia-Related Pain? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Nutrients doi: 10.3390/nu17203232
Authors:
Sara Ilari
Saverio Nucera
Valentina Malafoglia
Stefania Proietti
Lucia Carmela Passacatini
Rosamaria Caminiti
Valeria Mazza
Alessia Bonaddio
Francesca Oppedisano
Jessica Maiuolo
Daniela Caccamo
Marco Tafani
Carlo Tomino
Vincenzo Mollace
William Raffaeli
Carolina Muscoli
Background: Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, and localized tenderness. Its pathophysiology remains unclear, and treatment options are often limited and only partially effective. Recent studies suggest a potential link between vitamin D deficiency and symptom severity, as vitamin D may play a role in modulating pain and inflammation. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation in reducing pain and improving quality of life in fibromyalgia patients, focusing on studies up to 31 December 2024. Following PRISMA guidelines, a literature search in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus identified 2776 articles; 7 were included in the systematic review and 4 studies in each meta-analysis. Results: Results showed that vitamin D supplementation significantly reduced pain levels compared to the control group, with a statistically significant effect observed using the NRS or VAS (SMD = −0.85; 95% CI: −1.54 to −0.17; p = 0.0148), as well as the FIQ scale (SMD = −0.87; 95% CI: −1.56 to −0.20; p= 0.0115), resulting in an improvement in quality of life. Conclusions: These findings suggest that vitamin D may be a valuable adjunct in fibromyalgia management, particularly for pain. However, further high-quality trials are needed to confirm these effects and identify responsive patient subgroups.
Background: Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, and localized tenderness. Its pathophysiology remains unclear, and treatment options are often limited and only partially effective. Recent studies suggest a potential link between vitamin D deficiency and symptom severity, as vitamin D may play a role in modulating pain and inflammation. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation in reducing pain and improving quality of life in fibromyalgia patients, focusing on studies up to 31 December 2024. Following PRISMA guidelines, a literature search in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus identified 2776 articles; 7 were included in the systematic review and 4 studies in each meta-analysis. Results: Results showed that vitamin D supplementation significantly reduced pain levels compared to the control group, with a statistically significant effect observed using the NRS or VAS (SMD = −0.85; 95% CI: −1.54 to −0.17; p = 0.0148), as well as the FIQ scale (SMD = −0.87; 95% CI: −1.56 to −0.20; p= 0.0115), resulting in an improvement in quality of life. Conclusions: These findings suggest that vitamin D may be a valuable adjunct in fibromyalgia management, particularly for pain. However, further high-quality trials are needed to confirm these effects and identify responsive patient subgroups. Read More