We sought to understand the role of vitamin D3 supplementation in alleviating chronic low back pain (CLBP). In a single-arm, open-label study at a tertiary care hospital, we worked with 68 patients suffering from CLBP for at least three months, each demonstrating a significant pain level on a visual scale alongside low vitamin D levels.
Participants received 60,000 IU of vitamin D3 weekly for eight weeks. We tracked pain intensity and functional disability at various stages: at the outset, and then at two, three, and six months post-supplementation. Notably, we witnessed a remarkable increase in vitamin D levels from an average of 12.8 ng/mL to 36.07 ng/mL in those eight weeks, with 66% of participants achieving normal vitamin D levels.
The benefits didn’t stop there. Patients reported a significant drop in their pain scores at all follow-up periods, improving from 81 to 36 on the scale. Functional ability also saw enhancement over time, proving the positive influence of vitamin D3 on both pain and everyday activities.
Overall, our findings suggest that vitamin D3 supplementation can be an effective avenue for improving pain intensity and functionality in individuals with low back pain, warranting further investigation through controlled clinical trials.