Association of vitamin D intake, and associated factors with low back pain: a cross-sectional study.

Background: While there have been studies indicating a connection between insufficient levels of vitamin D and persistent low back pain (LBP), there is still a lack of definitive evidence. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between vitamin D intake, and associated factors with chronic lower back pain. Methods: This research utilized a cross-sectional study design. Data were collected from the records of patients presenting with LBP at our institute from February 2024 to June 2024. We included patients who were presented at our institute with chronic LBP and no associated comorbidities. Data were collected from the records of the patients, including age (years), weight (kg), height (cm), hips (cm), duration of sun exposure (hours/day), areas of the skin exposed to the sun (% body), dietary vitamin D supplementation, and pain severity using a numerical rating scale. The Oswestry low back disability questionnaire was utilized to assess the disability and pain originating from the low back. Results: A total of 392 participants were included in the present retrospective study with a median (range) age of 37 years (10-86). Their median (range) weight, height, and hips were 79 (25-110), 168 (130-190), and 36 (26-65), respectively. The presence of low back disability and discomfort was discovered to have a positive correlation with parameters such as older age, increased body weight, broader hips, longer duration of sun exposure, larger surface area of the body exposed to the sun, and higher reported levels of pain severity. Moreover, a significant link was found between inadequate intake of vitamin D and higher degrees of impairment in patients with LBP. Conclusion: Insufficient vitamin D intake was prevalent among individuals with chronic LBP and was significantly associated with higher levels of disability. Factors such as older age, increased weight, and greater pain severity are also correlated with greater functional impairment. These findings suggest a potential role of vitamin D in the assessment and management of chronic LBP.