A shortage of just one vitamin can significantly complicate recovery after breast cancer surgery: a study published in the journal Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine found a threefold increase in moderate pain after radical mastectomy, ScienceDaily reports. Researchers found that low vitamin D levels (below 30 nmol/L) may complicate recovery from breast cancer surgery by increasing pain intensity and the need for opioid analgesics, according to infohub.kz.
The results of the prospective observational study were published in the journal Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine. The work was conducted from September 2024 to April 2025 at El Fayoum University Hospital in Egypt. It involved 184 patients who underwent unilateral modified radical mastectomy.
Participants were divided into two equal groups: those with vitamin D deficiency (mean age 44) and those with sufficient levels (mean age 42). Doctors and staff were unaware of the patients' vitamin D status.
During surgery, all patients received fentanyl, and afterward, intravenous paracetamol every 8 hours and tramadol via a patient-controlled analgesia system.
Observations showed that patients with vitamin D deficiency were three times more likely to experience moderate pain (4–6 points on a 10-point scale) in the first 24 hours and used 112 mg more tramadol.
The study authors note that vitamin D influences inflammatory processes and the immune system. Although the observational nature of the work does not allow proving a direct causal link, the scientists suggest that taking vitamin D before surgery in women with a deficiency of this substance may improve postoperative pain control.