Vitamin D deficiency in fibromyalgia.

OBJECTIVE: To check the Vitamin D levels in patients diagnosed as fibromyagia in our population.

METHODS: Study was done at Medical OPD of Civil Hospital Karachi, from January to March 2009. Female patients diagnosed as Fibromyalgia according to American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria and exclusion of systemic illness on examination, and normal reports of blood CP, ESR, serum calcium, phosphate and Alkaline Phosphatase, were asked to get Vitamin D levels in their serum. Vitamin D deficiency is defined as <20 ng/ml, Vitamin D insufficiency 21-29 ng/ml and Vitamin D sufficiency equal or >30 ng/ml.

RESULT: Forty female patients were included in the study. The mean age was 37.65 +/- 11.5 years. Mean Vitamin D level was 17.41 +/- 5.497 ng/ml. Thirty two (80%) of patients had Vitamin D deficiency, mean levels of 15.855 +/- 4.918 ng/ml and 8(20%) had Vitamin D insufficiency, mean levels of 23.64 +/- 2.39 ng/ml. Patients with vitamin D deficiency and age less than 45 years were 22 (68.75%), had mean vitamin D level 16.87 +/- 4.48 ng/ml whereas in age ranging from 46-75 years were 10 (31.25%) had mean vitamin D level 16.09 +/- 6.45 ng/ml.

CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency is frequently seen in patients diagnosed as fibromyalgia and nonspecific musculoskeletal pain in our population. Although the sample size of the study is small, but the figures are so alarming that it is an eye opener towards the need of a population based study, including normal population as well as those presenting with musculoskeletal pain.