Vitamin D Levels In Patients Who Has Normal to Grade 2 Knee Arthroscopy Changes

Vitamin D deficiency has long been linked to musculoskeletal pain, and many other chronic disease conditions. Vitamin D is a nutrient that functions as a hormone precursor, and wide-ranging health effects are supported by the presence of vitamin D receptors in several cell types and tissues of the body (eg, lymphocytes and monocytes, brain, heart, pancreas, intestine, and placenta).In addition to its essential role of maintaining bone health, hypovitaminosis D has been implicated in the development of serious conditions, including diabetes, various types of cancer, and cardiovascular diseases.

Vitamin D is a unique prohormone that humans obtain in small amount from food, dietary supplements and largely by endogenous skin synthesis from 7-dehydrocholesterol with sunlight exposure. This endogenous synthesis produces the form vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol).Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are very common in the UK. Local audit at Chelmsford has shown severe deficiency of vitamin D among chronic pain patients.

The major source of vitamin D synthesis relies on sunlight exposure which is likely to be affected by modern lifestyles, which increasingly involve working indoors during daylight hours. This may be particularly important when combined with residence in northern latitudes and a cloudy climate.The proposed pilot study aims to identify percentage of vitamin D deficiency among knee pain patients by investigating eligible patients' blood for '25 hydroxy vitamin D'.

English speaking patients whose knee pain has not been resolved following knee arthroscopy are eligible for the study. Study will be carried out at the Broomfield hospital chronic pain department.

Duration will be around 6 months.