Postop Pain Differs by Vitamin D Status

Patients with preoperative vitamin D deficiency had higher postoperative pain scores and opioid use after mastectomy, including more than triple the odds of moderate to severe pain within 24 hours of surgery.

By
Kathryn Wighton
May 27, 2026
3 min

MDSpire News

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Vitamin D deficiency in breast cancer surgery patients is linked to higher rates of moderate to severe pain at 12 hours post-surgery.
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In the study, 17% of vitamin D-deficient patients reported moderate to severe pain compared to 2% of vitamin D-sufficient patients at 12 hours.
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Cumulative pain scores during the first 24 hours were higher in vitamin D-deficient patients, with greater postoperative tramadol consumption.
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Vitamin D deficiency was associated with over three times the odds of experiencing moderate to severe postoperative pain after adjustments.
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The study's limitations include a single-center design, short follow-up, and lack of assessment of various potential confounding factors.

Postop Pain Differs by Vitamin D Status

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Original Source(s)

Postop Pain Differs by Vitamin D Status

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