Scientists from Arizona State University's College of Public Health have found that deficiencies in vitamins D, B12, folic acid, and magnesium may be linked to an increased risk of chronic pain. The findings were published in the journal Pain Practice.

The study used health information from the All of Us database of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The program was created in 2015 to collect genetic and medical data from volunteers in order to accelerate medical breakthroughs.

The subjects were divided into three groups. The first group included people who did not suffer from constant pain, while the second and third groups included participants with moderate and severe chronic pain. Unlike acute pain, which usually occurs in response to trauma or illness and decreases as healing or recovery progresses, chronic pain can persist for months or even years.

The analysis showed that people with chronic pain are significantly more likely to have deficiencies in vitamin D, B12, folic acid, and magnesium. At the same time, lower levels of these nutrients in the body were linked to more pain. Scientists also found a link between chronic pain and low vitamin C levels in men.

The authors of the study note that it doesn't show a cause-and-effect relationship between the two. However, the new data could form the basis for the development of non-drug treatments for chronic pain, such as diet. Scientists suggest that improving the balance of micronutrients may, over time, help reduce the severity of pain and reduce the need for painkillers.