Effects of Vitamin D on Endometriosis-Related Pain: A Double-Blind Clinical Trial

Med Sci Monit. 2016 Dec 17:22:4960-4966. doi: 10.12659/msm.901838.

Abstract

BACKGROUND Endometriosis is a disabling disease of reproductive-age women. Dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and pelvic pain are the main symptoms of endometriosis. Its etiology is not clear. Endometriosis may have various causes, including vitamin D deficiency, but its effect is controversial. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this double-blind clinical trial, we enrolled patients with endometriosis diagnosed and treated by laparoscopy, with scores of at least 3 for of dysmenorrhea and/or pelvic pain at 8 weeks after surgical treatment. They were randomly prescribed vitamin D (50 000 IU weekly for 12 weeks) or placebo. Severity of pain in the 2 groups (placebo and treatment) was compared by VAS test at 24 weeks after surgical treatment. RESULTS There were 19 patients in the vitamin D group and 20 in the placebo group. Baseline characteristics in the 2 groups were similar. Following the treatment with vitamin D or placebo, we did not find significant differences in severity of pelvic pain (p=0.24) and dysmenorrhea (p=0.45) between the 2 groups. Mean pelvic pain at 24 weeks after laparoscopy in the vitamin D group was 0.84±1.74 and in placebo group it was 0.68±1.70 (p=0.513). Mean dysmenorrhea was 2.10±2.33 in the vitamin D group and 2.73±2.84 in the placebo group (p=0.45). CONCLUSIONS After ablative surgery for endometriosis, vitamin D treatment did not have a significant effect in reducing dysmenorrhea and/or pelvic pain.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Dysmenorrhea / drug therapy
  • Dyspareunia / drug therapy
  • Endometrial Ablation Techniques / adverse effects
  • Endometrial Ablation Techniques / methods
  • Endometriosis / drug therapy*
  • Endometriosis / physiopathology
  • Endometriosis / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Laparoscopy / adverse effects
  • Laparoscopy / methods
  • Pain Measurement
  • Pelvic Pain / drug therapy
  • Pelvic Pain / etiology
  • Vitamin D / therapeutic use*
  • Vitamins / therapeutic use
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Vitamins
  • Vitamin D