Vitamin D deficiency linked to increased pain after breast cancer surgery

A study conducted at Fayoum University Hospital in Egypt suggests a link between low vitamin D levels and increased pain following breast cancer surgery. Research published in the journal ‘Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine’ examined 184 women scheduled for unilateral modified radical mastectomies.

The study divided participants into two groups: those with vitamin D levels below 30 nmol/L and those with levels at or above 30 nmol/L. While pain levels were similar immediately following surgery, a significant gap emerged in the hours following the procedure. Patients with vitamin D deficiency were over three times more likely to experience moderate to severe pain within 24 hours compared to those with sufficient levels.

Furthermore, the vitamin D deficient group required higher doses of pain medication, including more fentanyl during surgery and more tramadol postoperatively. Researchers hypothesize that vitamin D may influence pain perception through its role in immune and inflammatory responses. However, the study notes that while a correlation exists, it does not yet prove that vitamin D deficiency directly causes increased pain, nor does it confirm that pre-surgical supplementation will mitigate postoperative discomfort. Further clinical trials are required.