Role of vitamin D in the management of chronic pain after gastrointestinal surgery.

Abstract

Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) following gastrointestinal (GI) surgery is a common issue that poses significant challenges to patients' recovery and quality of life. Given the importance of vitamin D in inflammation reduction, nerve repair, bone health, and immune regulation, its potential role in pain management has gained increasing attention. Preliminary evidence suggests that many patients who undergo GI surgery have lower perioperative vitamin D levels. Patients with vitamin D deficiency have increased opioid use and heightened pain sensitivity after colorectal cancer surgery. Patients with lower vitamin D levels experience greater pain three months after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. However, research on the relationship between vitamin D and CPSP after GI surgery is limited. Larger, well-designed clinical trials are needed to determine the causal relationship between low vitamin D levels and CPSP, determine the optimal perioperative vitamin D levels, and provide more reliable evidence for clinical application. Moreover, vitamin D has positive effects on various systemic diseases and postoperative recovery, including immune regulation, infection prevention, wound healing, tissue regeneration, nutritional status, and metabolic health. These findings indicate that vitamin D has broad clinical application potential. We hope to provide a new insight into postoperative recovery and pain management strategies for GI surgeries.