Vitamin D in the Transition from Acute to Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND

The transition from acute to chronic pain is an important clinical phenomenon that significantly impacts the healthcare system. Despite decades of research, preventing this transition remains a complex challenge. Many studies have explored the various factors that contribute to the development of chronic pain, but the underlying mechanisms are still largely unclear. In this frame, vitamin D (VD) plays an important role in pain mechanism development, with emerging evidence suggesting it influences pain perception, inflammation, and nerve function.

METHODS

A total of 14 eligible original research articles were identified.

RESULTS

Our qualitative analysis showed that VD did not directly influence the transition from acute to chronic pain, but it affected pain intensity, improving outcomes in patients at risk of developing chronic pain.

CONCLUSIONS

Additional randomized clinical trials, particularly double-blind, placebo-controlled studies, which are regarded as the gold standard in clinical research, are warranted to evaluate the role of vitamin D in the progression from acute to chronic pain.