Vitamin D and fibromyalgia: a meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology and Immunology
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Conflicting evidence exists regarding the association between vitamin D levels and fibromyalgia.
• Vitamin D plays a role in immune function and may influence autoimmune conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a meta-analysis of existing studies to determine the relationship between serum vitamin D concentrations and fibromyalgia.
• To resolve discrepancies in previous research by pooling data from multiple primary studies.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was performed across major databases (PubMed, Scopus, etc.) following PRISMA guidelines.
• Eligible studies comparing vitamin D levels in fibromyalgia patients versus controls were selected and analyzed.
• Risk of bias, heterogeneity (Cochrane Q, I²), and publication bias (Egger's test) were assessed. Data were combined using random-effects modeling.

Main Results:

• Twelve studies comprising 851 fibromyalgia patients and 862 controls were included in the meta-analysis.
• A statistically significant lower serum concentration of vitamin D was observed in patients with fibromyalgia (Standardized Mean Difference: -0.56, 95% CI: -1.05 to -0.08).

Conclusions:

• Fibromyalgia patients exhibit significantly lower serum vitamin D levels compared to the general population.
• This finding suggests a potential role for vitamin D deficiency in the pathophysiology or manifestation of fibromyalgia.