Role of vitamin D in lateral epicondylitis among Egyptians

Abstract

Background: Lateral elbow pain is a prevalent musculoskeletal disorder affecting the elbow’s epicondyle region. One form of lateral elbow pain is lateral epicondylitis, which is a degenerative disorder of the musculotendinous system. Adequate levels of vitamin D are essential for maintaining musculoskeletal health. Our study aimed to assess the role of vitamin D in lateral epicondylitis among Egyptians. Results: Our research revealed that there is a significant correlation between vitamin D deficiency and lateral epicondylitis. Patients with vitamin D deficiency displayed worse patient-rated tennis elbow evaluation score (PTREE), visual analog scale score (VAS), and grip strength. These findings indicate a statistically significant association between lateral epicondylitis patients with deficient vitamin D and each of the PTREE scores (p < 0.001), VAS score (p < 0.001), and hand grip strength (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The etiology of lateral epicondylitis is not yet fully understood. However, our study provides evidence supporting the notion that low levels of vitamin D may be one of the risk factors in the etiology of lateral epicondylitis among Egyptians.