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Fatigue, symptom severity may be linked to vitamin D deficiency in patients with fibromyalgia
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Patients with fibromyalgia who were deficient in vitamin D were more likely to have higher scores for fatigue and poorer functional scores compared with individuals with fibromyalgia alone or with patients deficient in vitamin D without fibromyalgia, according to findings from a study of patients in Turkey.
Forty-three patients with fibromyalgia and vitamin D deficiency were compared with 21 patients with fibromyalgia and sufficient levels of vitamin D and 37 participants with vitamin D deficiency alone. Participants were excluded in the presence of a known calcium abnormality, hyperparathyroidism or osteomalacia. All patients with fibromyalgia were women compared with 86.55 of patients with Vitamin D deficiency alone. Patients’ mean age was 45 years in the group with isolated fibromyalgia, 47 years in the group with both fibromyalgia and vitamin D deficiency, and 49 years in the group with isolated vitamin D deficiency.
Fatigue was measured on a VAS, and patients were administered the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). Additionally, Widespread Pain Index (WPI), Symptom Severity Score (SSS) and tender points were evaluated.
Fatigue levels between the groups with isolated vitamin D deficiency and isolated fibromyalgia were similar; however, fatigue among patients with both fibromyalgia and vitamin D deficiency was significantly higher than in the other two groups, according to the researchers.
A moderate, negative correlation was seen between the levels of fatigue and vitamin D levels, and BASFI and HAQ scores were higher in patients with fibromyalgia and vitamin D deficiency. The researchers also found WPI and SSS were only slightly higher in patients with both fibromyalgia and vitamin D deficiency compared with patients with isolated fibromyalgia. – by Shirley Pulawski
Reference:
Solmaz D, et al. Paper #AB0944. Presented at: European League Against Rheumatism Annual European Congress of Rheumatology. June 10-13, 2015; Rome.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.