Psychological Outcomes and Quality of Life of Fibromyalgia Patients with Vitamin D Supplementation—A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

The efficacy of current pharmaceutical treatments for fibromyalgia are limited. Vitamin D has shown promise in relieving pain. However, there is a lack of comprehensive analysis of psychological outcomes with vitamin D supplementation in fibromyalgia. This study aimed to investigate the impact of vitamin D supplementation on psychological outcomes and quality of life in fibromyalgia patients, given the unmet clinical need for effective treatment options. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing vitamin D to placebo and prospective studies examining changes before and after vitamin D supplementation for patients with fibromyalgia was conducted to evaluate the effects of vitamin D on psychological outcomes, quality of life, and pain scores in patients with fibromyalgia. Databases were searched for relevant articles published from earliest available date to October 31, 2022. (PROSPERO number, CRD42022369889). We included 8 trials with a total of 694 participants and found that vitamin D supplementation had significant positive effects on physical function (standard mean differences (SMD) = 0.44, 95% CI = [0.10, 0.77 ]), role limitations due to emotional health (SMD = 0.57, 95% CI = [0.32, 0.82]), social function (SMD = 0.50, 95% CI = [0.08, 0.93]), and general health (SMD = 0.36, 95% CI = [0.11, 0.61]). Improvement of the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) scores was noted (SMD = −0.414, 95% CI = [−0.808, −0.021]), but not on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) (SMD = −0.15, 95% CI = [−0.771, 0.471]) and the Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI) scores (SMD = −0.456, 95% CI = [−1.27, 0.30]). In conclusion, vitamin D supplementation might be an alternative option for improvement of psychological outcomes and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia.

Electroacupuncture Reduces Fibromyalgia Pain via Neuronal/Microglial Inactivation and Toll-like Receptor 4 in the Mouse Brain: Precise Interpretation of Chemogenetics

“…FM has features of central sensitization [38], hyperalgesia, allodynia, and hypersensitivity to various external stimuli, such as sounds or lights [39][40][41]. A metaanalysis summarized 37 FM syndrome papers, including 1264 subjects, and found consistent results on differences between FM patients and controls in pain-related brain areas [39]. So, in our study, we focused on four mice brain areas: thalamus, prefrontal cortex, SSC, and amygdala.…”

“…It is known as "nociplastic pain" [36], a chronic pain that is maintained in part by central sensitization, a phenomenon of synaptic plasticity, and increased neuronal responsiveness in central pain pathways after stimulation [37]. FM has features of central sensitization [38], hyperalgesia, allodynia, and hypersensitivity to various external stimuli, such as sounds or lights [39][40][41]. A meta-analysis summarized 37 FM syndrome papers, including 1264 subjects, and found consistent results on differences between FM patients and controls in pain-related brain areas [39].…”

Nutrition and Chronobiology as Key Components of Multidisciplinary Therapeutic Interventions for Fibromyalgia and Associated Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Narrative and Critical Review

“…It also reported that vitamin D supplementation leads to pain reduction [ 111 ], suggesting that it might also alleviate the pain associated with FM and widespread chronic pain, especially in vitamin D-deficient individuals [ 111 ]. Vitamin D supplementation also had significant positive effects on physical function (measured by FIQ), role limitations due to emotional health, social function, and general health, but not on scores of the pain VAS or Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI) [ 112 ]. Supplementation improves pain caused by FM; however, there is a gap regarding specific recommendations in healthcare systems [ 113 ].…”

Depressive Symptoms in Patients with Fibromyalgia: Current Evidence and Preventive Approaches

“…Recently, studies have proposed that vitamin D supplementation could potentially reduce the risk of psychiatric symptoms in fibromyalgia patients and enhance patients’ quality of life [ 32 , 33 ]. However, though positive results were reported in single studies, the integrated evidence indicated that a significant improvement in Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI) scores was not observed in fibromyalgia patients with sufficient vitamin D supplementation [ 34 ]. Regarding the effect of vitamin D and the depressive symptoms in fibromyalgia, the current evidence was massively limited by small sample sizes and high heterogeneity.…”

“…Regarding the effect of vitamin D and the depressive symptoms in fibromyalgia, the current evidence was massively limited by small sample sizes and high heterogeneity. Therefore, though supplementation with vitamin D has been reported to have a positive influence on some specific indicators of fibromyalgia (i.e., Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) scores or social functions) [ 34 ], the efficiency should be prudently interpreted based on current evidence.…”