High dose vitamin D therapy for chronic pain in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease: results of a randomized double blind pilot study

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Ifeyinwa Osunkwo, Emory University; Thomas R Ziegler, Emory University; Jessica A. Alvarez, Emory University; C. McCracken, Emory University; K. Cherry, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta; C. E. Osunkwo, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta; S. F. Ofori-Acquah, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta; Subir Ghosh, Emory University; A. Ogunbobode, Emory University; J. Rhodes, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta; James R Eckman, Emory University; Carlton D Dampier, Emory University; Vin Tangpricha, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2012-10-01
• Publisher: Wiley: 12 months
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bjh.12019
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: British Journal of Haematology
• ISSN: 0007-1048
• Volume: 159
• Issue: 2
• Start Page: 211
• End Page: 215
• Grant/Funding Information: We received cholecalciferol and placebo caplets from Joanne and James Grote as a gift from the BTR Group Inc., Pittsfield IL, USA.; This study was supported by grant funding from the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Services Research Grant (IO), National Institute of Health grant K24 RR 023356 (TRZ) and K23 AR054334 (VT).
• Keywords: vitamin D; ADULTS; chronic pain; PREVALENCE; Hematology; quality of life; QUALITY-OF-LIFE; D DEFICIENCY; sickle cell; HEALTH; Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; paediatrics
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Oncology; Health Sciences, Nutrition

Abstract

We report results of a pilot study of high-dose vitamin D in sickle cell disease (SCD). Subjects were given a 6-week course of oral high-dose cholecalciferol (4000-100 000 IU per week) or placebo and monitored prospectively for a period of six months. Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency was present at baseline in 82·5% and 52·5% of subjects, respectively. Subjects who received high-dose vitamin D achieved higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, experienced fewer pain days per week, and had higher physical activity quality-of-life scores. These findings suggest a potential benefit of vitamin D in reducing the number of pain days in SCD. Larger prospective studies with longer duration are needed to confirm these effects.