Are Growing Pains Related to Vitamin D Deficiency? Efficacy of Vitamin D Therapy for Resolution of Symptoms

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Vehapoglu A., Turel O., TURKMEN S., INAL B. B., Aksoy T., OZGURHAN G., ...More

MEDICAL PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE, vol.24, no.4, pp.332-338, 2015 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 24 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2015
  • Doi Number: 10.1159/000431035
  • Journal Name: MEDICAL PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.332-338
  • Keywords: Growing pains, Vitamin D, Visual analog scale, Children, DIFFUSE MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN, QUALITY-OF-LIFE, 25-HYDROXYVITAMIN D, D SUPPLEMENTATION, CHILDREN, HEALTH, PREVALENCE, KNOWLEDGE
  • Bezmialem Vakıf University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] status of children with growing pains and to evaluate the efficacy of vitamin D treatment on the resolution of pain symptoms. Subjects and Methods: One hundred and twenty children with growing pains were included in a prospective cohort study. Serum 25(OH)D and bone mineral levels were measured in all subjects at the time of enrollment. The pain intensity of those with vitamin D deficiency was measured using a pain visual analog scale (VAS). After a single oral dose of vitamin D, the pain intensity was remeasured by means of the VAS at 3 months. The 25(OH)D levels and VAS scores before and after oral vitamin D administration were compared by means of a paired Student's t test. Results: In the 120 children with growing pains, vitamin D insufficiency was noted in 104 (86.6%). Following vitamin D supplementation, the mean 25(OH)D levels increased from 13.4 +/- 7.2 to 44.5 +/- 16.4 ng/ml, the mean pain VAS score decreased from 6.8 +/- 1.9 to 2.9 +/- 2.5 cm (a mean reduction of -3.8 +/- 2.1, p < 0.001) and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: Supplementation with oral vitamin D resulted in a significant reduction in pain intensity among these children with growing pains who had hypovitaminosis D. (C) 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel