�Low vitamin D levels may chip in to continuing pain among women, suggests research published ahead of print in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
The findings are based on the blood analyses and pain scores of almost 7000 45 twelvemonth old men and women from across England, Scotland and Wales, all of whom were born during one week in March 1958.
Smokers, non-drinkers, the overweight and the underweight all reported higher rates of chronic pain.
The extent of chronic widespread pain did not variegate among work force according to vitamin D levels. However, this was not the case for women.
Women with vitamin D levels between 75 and 99 mmol/litre had the last rates of this type of hurting, at just over 8%.
Women with levels of less than 25 mmol/litre had the highest rates, at 14.4%.
There appeared to be a J shaped curve, with the prevalence of widespread painful sensation at 10% or higher among those with vitamin D levels above 99 mmol/litre.
The findings were not explained by sexuality differences in lifestyle or social factors, such as levels of physical action and time spent open, say the authors.
And at the age of 45, few of the women would have entered the change of life, a period during which bone mineral density waterfall as oestrogen levels dwindle.
But by way of possible explanations, the authors point to osteomalacia, a disease of extreme vitamin D insufficiency, which is associated with isolated or generalised osseous tissue pain. The hormonally active form of vitamin D is too involved in the rule of immune system responses.
Around one in 10 of the population suffers from chronic widespread pain in the neck at whatever one time, say the authors.
The causes are not fully understood, just social and psychological factors are known to affect the sensation and reporting of pain.
Vitamin D and chronic widespread pain in a white middle aged British population: evidence from a cross sectional population studyOnline First AnnRheum Dis2008 interior: 10.1136/ard/2008.090456
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Annals of The Rheumatic Rheumatic DiseasesAnnals of the Rheumatic Diseases (ARD) is an external peer brushup journal committed to promoting the highest standards of scientific exchange and education. It covers all aspects of rheumatology, which includes the spectrum of musculoskeletal conditions, arthritic disease, and connective tissue disorders. ARD publishes basic, clinical, and translational scientific research. Concise scientific communicating is encouraged and peer reviewed proceedings of international meetings ar featured. Educational papers include state of the artistic production reviews, "how to" articles and educational cases that focus on problems faced in clinical practice. The journal was first published in 1939 and has an authorative global Editorial Board and a growing international readership.
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