MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- A University of Minnesota study released Wednesday suggests people with persistent, non-specific musculoskeletal pain should suspect vitamin D deficiency.
Researchers found 93 percent of all subjects with non-specific musculoskeletal pain were vitamin D deficient. The study of 150 children and adults found 100 percent of African-American, East African, Hispanic, and Native American subjects were vitamin D deficient.
In addition, all study patients under age 30 were vitamin D deficient and of those, 55 percent were severely deficient. Five patients had no vitamin D at all.
Lead researcher Dr. Greg Plotnikoff, said: "These findings are remarkably different than what is taught in medical school. We would expect vitamin D deficiency in old persons or housebound persons. We found the worst vitamin D deficiency in young persons -- especially women of childbearing age.
"We were stunned to find no vitamin D at all in five patients who had been told their pain was 'all in their head.' "
Plotnikoff said vitamin D deficiency is associated with significant risks for osteoporosis, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and auto-immune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. It also is harmful for developing fetuses and causes rickets in children.
