Vitamin D's impact on fibromyalgiaRole of Vitamin D Status and Alterations in Gut Microbiota Metabolism in Fibromyalgia-Associated Chronic Inflammatory Pain.
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We set out to explore how vitamin D levels relate to chronic pain in fibromyalgia, particularly focusing on the role of gut microbiota. Our investigation involved 68 female patients with fibromyalgia, measuring pain intensity and various biomarkers in their blood, including inflammatory cytokines and vitamin D levels.
Our findings revealed that the patients had a moderate level of fibromyalgia-related pain, as shown by their average FIQ-R scores. Interestingly, we found that lower levels of vitamin D were associated with higher pain scores, and several inflammatory markers were elevated in the patients. Additionally, we noted a concerning trend where patients with lower acetate levels—a product of gut microbiota metabolism—also demonstrated an increased kynurenine/tryptophan ratio, linked to inflammation. This suggests a complex interaction between vitamin D status and gut health in fibromyalgia.
While it appears that vitamin D and altered gut metabolism may significantly impact inflammatory pain in fibromyalgia, our study highlights the need for further research with larger patient populations to clarify these relationships. Overall, our findings suggest that enhancing vitamin D levels could play a beneficial role in managing fibromyalgia symptoms, though conclusive evidence is still required.