Vitamin D Insufficiency/Deficiency in Patients with Recurrent Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to verify if (1) there is a link between hypovitaminosis D and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, (2) the number of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo relapses decreases after vitamin D supplementation; and (3) benign paroxysmal positional vertigo response to physical therapy improves after hypovitaminosis D correction.

METHODS: We enrolled 26 patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and 24 subjects, who never suffered from vertigo, as a control group. All benign paroxysmal positional vertigo patients underwent physical therapy, once a week, until benign paroxysmal positional vertigo resolution. All participants were subjected to a dosage of serum 25(OH) vitamin D. In patients with hypovitaminosis D, we prescribed cholecalciferol. After 3 months of therapy, all patients were asked to undergo a second dosage of serum 25(OH) vitamin D. For each patient, we counted the number of maneuvers required to resolve each episode of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo before and after vitamin D supplementation.

RESULTS: Our results suggest that (1) there is a relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the onset of BPPV and (2) hypovitaminosis correction is able to reduce both the number of patients relapsing and the number of relapses per patient.

CONCLUSIONS: We have not found a significant effect of vitamin D supplementation as regards the responsivity of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo to physical therapy.

Cite this article as: Pecci R, Mandalà M, Marcari A, et al. Vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency in patients with recurrent benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. J Int Adv Otol. 2022;18(2):158-166.