Micronutrients and Chronic Pain: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Science
• Pain Medicine
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Micronutrient deficiencies are increasingly recognized as potential contributors to chronic pain development.
• Understanding the relationship between serum micronutrient levels and chronic pain is crucial for effective management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in serum micronutrient levels between individuals with and without chronic pain.
• To analyze these differences across various pain severities and demographic groups.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study using the All of Us database analyzed serum levels of vitamin D (25OH-D), C, B12, folate, and magnesium.
• Subjects were categorized into no, mild/moderate, and severe pain groups based on numeric rating scale scores.
• Micronutrient levels were classified as normal, deficient, or borderline deficient, with analyses stratified by sex and race/ethnicity.

Main Results:

• Individuals with severe chronic pain exhibited lower serum levels of 25OH-D, B12, and folate compared to those with less or no pain (p < 0.001).
• Higher incidences of 25OH-D, vitamin C (in males), and magnesium deficiency were observed in the severe pain group (p < 0.05).
• Specific deficiencies varied by race/ethnicity and sex, with Black and White individuals showing lower 25OH-D and folate, and Whites showing lower B12.

Conclusions:

• Lower serum levels of 25OH-D, B12, and folate, along with increased deficiencies in 25OH-D, vitamin C (males), and magnesium, are associated with chronic pain.
• These associations were more pronounced in Black and White populations compared to Asian and Hispanic individuals.
• Micronutrient repletion presents a potential therapeutic avenue for influencing and managing chronic pain conditions.