Low Back Pain: An Unusual Cause

One unusual cause of low back pain (LBP) involves vitamin D deficiency. Yes, that’s right, a VITAMIN DEFICIENCY!

One study reported on a 360 patient (90% women, 10% men) group under treatment at spinal and internal medicine clinics over a six-year time frame for LBP of 6 months or greater with no obvious cause. Doctors tested these patients for blood levels of vitamin D (25-hydroxy vitamin D), as well as calcium and alkaline phosphatase (an enzyme found in bone). Then, they administered vitamin D supplements and the same tests were repeated.

Their results are VERY INTERESTING! The findings showed 83% of the group studied (299 patients) had abnormally low levels of vitamin D before supplementation and after treatment consisting only of a vitamin D supplement, the researchers noted clinical improvement in ALL that patients who had low vitamin D levels and in 95% of all 360 patients in the study group! THAT’S AMAZING! They concluded that “Vitamin D deficiency is a major contributor to chronic low back pain” and recommended screening for vitamin D deficiency and treatment with supplements which they say, “…should be mandatory…,” especially in areas that are “endemic” for vitamin D deficiency. They also concluded that bone softening diseases like osteomalacia may occur as a result of vitamin D deficiency, while many other studies have linked vitamin D deficiency with osteoporosis.

Another question then arises, what geographic regions are most susceptible to low sunlight and hence, vitamin D deficiency? One study showed that during the eight months centered around summer in the United States (March-October), no difference was found in the vitamin D levels for all locations from the southern tip of Texas to just south of Portland, Oregon. But, in the winter months (November-February), vitamin D levels decreased dramatically the more North you traveled.  However, in lower latitudes (<25 degrees), no difference was found between summer vs. winter months. What about sun block? Does using it reduce vitamin D absorption from the sun? The answer is, YES. According to “The Peoples Pharmacy” website (http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2011/06/13/sunscreens-block-vitamin-d/),  the typical dose of vitamin D of 400 IU “…is probably inadequate to overcome a deficiency.” They recommend 10-15 minutes of time in the sun without sunscreen a few times a week or a higher dose of vitamin D3 (“…closer to 2000 IU of vitamin D”).

There are MANY other benefits – not just in terms of LBP – from taking vitamin D that have good scientific support. In fact, a PubMed search for “benefits of vitamin D” resulted in 554 studies, some of which included conditions such as HIV, heart conditions, chronic illness in the elderly, osteoporosis, cancers (colorectal, prostate, breast, and others), kidney disease, autoimmune diseases (celiac disease, MS, rheumatoid arthritis, and many others), diabetes, and more!