257 Vitamin D Levels, Absorption and Lower Back Pain After Failed Surgery
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Dynamic Chiropractic – August 26, 2012, Vol. 30, Issue 18

Vitamin D Levels, Absorption and Lower Back Pain After Failed Surgery

By G. Douglas Andersen, DC, DACBSP, CCN

In a small study of nine patients with failed back surgery outcomes caused by either disc degeneration or spondylolisthesis, the authors compared them with seven age- and diagnosis-matched controls who responded to conservative care, did not require surgery and were not in chronic pain.

When the researchers tested vitamin D, they discovered the mean serum 25-hydroxy-calciferol levels in the nine failed-surgery patients was 17.9 ng/ml, compared to 40.6 ng/ml in the seven controls who responded to conservative care and were no longer in pain.

The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to score pain. Vitamin D replacement was given to the nine patients in two three-month stages separated by retesting. Stage 1 was 10 days at 20,000 IU of vitamin D2, followed by 80 days of 600 IU of vitamin D3. Stage two was 600 IU of vitamin D3 for 90 days, at which time serum levels were tested for a third time. (See Table 1) In this small study, higher vitamin D levels were associated with lower pain scores at six months (based on VAS scores):

  • Subject #2 (male, age 50); serum vitamin D 51 ng/ml; VAS score: 2
  • Subject #6 (male, age 33); serum vitamin D 50 ng/ml; VAS score 2
  • Subject #9 (male, age 30); serum vitamin D 39 ng/ml; VAS score 4
  • Subject #5 (female, age 47); serum vitamin D 46 ng/ml; VAS score 2
  • Subject #1 (female, age 29); serum vitamin D 41 ng/ml; VAS score 4
  • Subject #8 (male, age 45); serum vitamin D 38 ng/ml; VAS score 5
  • Subject #3 (male, age 25); serum vitamin D 38 ng/ml; VAS score 7
  • Subject #4 (female, age 40); serum vitamin D 36 ng/ml; VAS score 5
  • Subject #7 (male, age 54); serum vitamin D 34 ng/ml; VAS score 7

The ability to absorb vitamin D2 and D3 differs widely from person to person. This small study provides an excellent example that there is no "one dose fits all" approach when treating vitamin D deficiency. (See Table 2)

Vitamin D in Supplements and Circulation

Cholecalciferol (vitamin D3): Naturally occurring form of vitamin D; made by the skin upon sun exposure; found in fish, fortified milk and most supplements.

Ergocalciferol (vitamin D2): Made in the laboratory by radiating fungus; not naturally occurring in the body; used in prescription vitamin D (Drisdol), available in 50,000-IU capsules.

Calcifediol aka calcidiol, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol or 25-hydroxyvitamin D3: Abbreviated 25(OH)D. Prehormone made from cholecalciferol in the liver. It has low biologic activity, but is the major type in the bloodstream and is the best marker of vitamin D status because it includes both internal production and external ingestion.

Calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3): The active form made from calcidiol in the kidneys and tissues. It is considered the most potent steroid hormone in the human body. However, blood levels are not a good indicator of vitamin D status because they can be normal even when deficiencies are present.
There is general agreement on what constitutes low and deficient levels of vitamin D on a blood test. There is ongoing debate regarding adequate, normal, optimal, elevated and excessive levels. Currently, blood levels of serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol, aka 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, aka 25(OH) D, are characterized as follows: optimal: 50-70 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) or 125-185 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L); normal: 30-70 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) or 75-185 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L); low: < 30 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) or < 75 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L); and deficient: < 20 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) or < 50 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L). Note: Optimal and normal are not universally established or agreed upon.

Hopefully, these grey zones will be resolved by the research generated by increased interest (in vitamin D) that is currently underway. Even when the normal laboratory levels are better established, the best providers will not make the mistake of treating a test result while ignoring symptoms, complaints, history and exam findings.

Table 1: Subject Demographics and Response to Vitamin D
Subject Surgeries (#) Years in Pain Vitamin D at Baseline Vitamin D Three Months Vitamin D Six Months VAS Baseline VAS Three Months VAS Six Months
1 2 .5 18 ng/ml 33 41 8 6 4
2 2 2 20 ng/ml 42 51 8 3 2
3 3 1.5 25 ng/ml 29 38 9 7 7
4 1 2.5 6 ng/ml 23 36 8 7 5
5 2 2.5 14 ng/ml 28 46 9 3 2
6 1 2.5 21 ng/ml 33 50 7 2 2
7 4 2.5 20 ng/ml 29 34 8 7 7
8 1 2 10 ng/ml 26 38 7 4 5
9 4 2.5 20 ng/ml 26 49 8 8 4
Note: Subjects 1-3 had degenerative disc disease; subjects 4-9 had spondylolisthesis

Table 2: Vitamin D Absorption by Subject During the Study Period
Subject Increase Months 1-3 with
200,000 IU D2 + 48,000 IU D3		 Increase Months 3-6 With
54,000 IU D3
1 15 ng/ml 9 ng/ml
2 22 ng/ml 9 ng/ml
3 4 ng/ml 9 ng/ml
4 17 ng/ml 13 ng/ml
5 14 ng/ml 18 ng/ml
6 12 ng/ml 17 ng/ml
7 9 ng/ml 5 ng/ml
8 16 ng/ml 12 ng/ml
9 6 ng/ml 23 ng/ml

Reference

  1. Waikaaul S. Serum 25-hydroxy-calciferol levels and failed back surgery syndrome. Journal of Orthopedic Surgery, 2012;20(1):18-22.

Click here for previous articles by G. Douglas Andersen, DC, DACBSP, CCN.

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