The relationship between benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and vitamin D deficiency

Abstract EN

Introduction: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is considered the most common cause of Chronic vertigo (1), BPPV is most commonly primary with no secondary causes like head trauma (4), BPPV is caused by otoconia that moves freely in the semicircular canals(5), Calcium has an important role in the metabolism of these otoconia (6).

Objective: We performed our Research to study the relationship between serum Vitamin D levels and the occurrence of BPPV, it's relationship with bilateral BPPV involvement, and it's relationship with the number of repositioning maneuvers required to cure the patient with BPPV.

Methods: A case control retrospective study was done on 106 patients in the Royal Medical Services , Who were divided into two groups ; the first one was 53 patients diagnosed to have BPPV ,aged (31-81) years, the second was the control group with 53 patients with no BPPV, aged (30-82) years, BPPV was diagnosed by the presence of nystagmus with special characteristics in the positioning tests.

Results: Patients with BPPV had statistically lower serum vitamin D levels compared to the control group, patients with bilateral BPPV involvement had lower serum vitamin D levels compared to patients with unilateral BPPV that were statistically insignificant, finally patients with BPPV who needed more than one repositioning maneuver to cure had statically lower serum vitamin D levels than the patients with BPPV who needed only one repositioning maneuver to cure.

Conclusion: BPPV is associated with low serum vitamin D levels, in addition, patients with BPPV who require more than one repositioning maneuver to cure have lower serum vitamin D levels.