The vast majority (93%) of the 150 patients reporting to a Minneapolis (US) clinic with persistent, non-specific back or muscle pain between February 2000 and June 2002 were found to be severely low in vitamin D.

The researchers recommend that all patients reporting such symptoms should be screened for vitamin D status but also caution that the study took a simple photograph at one moment in time, so said nothing about the possible effect of long-term deficiency.

Further research is needed to prove a causal link.

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