As groundwork for a randomized controlled trial, this investigation proposes a pilot study in the management of chronic inflammatory low back pain in patient cohorts under the routine chiropractic care of a given physician, at the same time ingesting daily doses at the same hour each day over a period of 3 months after being randomized to either placebo or a combination of vitamins B6, B9 (folate), and B12 in respective doses of 50 mg, 1.2 mg, and 18 mcg. The targeted number of patients is 48, with 60 recruited to account for dropouts. Inclusion criteria will be (i) ages 18-60, and (ii) chronic inflammatory low back pain experienced constantly or frequently for at least 3 months and screened according to the criteria shown above in TABLE 1, omitting the age criterion. Exclusion criteria will include (i) taking of any antacids, digestive medications, or corticosteroids within the past 30 days, (ii) taking of any of the vitamins B6, B9 (folate), or B12 or a multivitamin capsule containing any of these vitamins within the past 15 days, (iii) not having diagnosed with impaired renal function or chronic kidney disease,1, 2 (iv) currently undergoing therapy for depression or suicidal ideation, (v) the presence of any red flag conditions, such as bowel, bladder, sexual or other dysfunctions; (vi) current involvement with medico-legal proceeding such as workers' compensation claims; or (vii) pregnancy.
Expected outcomes monitored at 2 weeks prior to baseline, at baseline before and after treatment, and at 1, 2, and 3 months after the commencement of treatment will include the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes will include (i) the Quadruple Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and (ii) the Short Form Health Survey. Both within-group and between-group comparisons will be made for each chiropractic cohort. A VAS change in the order of 2 units (20 mm) or greater is considered to be of clinical significance in a population low back pain sufferers,3 4 while the minimum clinically important difference for the ODI has been shown to be 6 points, corresponding to 12 percentage points.5, 6
Sample size was previously determined to be 60 participants in treatment and control groups assuming 80% power and α of 0.05 to yield change of ODI of 9 points and SD of 16.29 as previously described.7This is divided among the three participating chiropractors.
For this pilot study, a single chiropractor with a patient cohort of n = 60, randomized into two groups of a minimum 24 each (allowing for dropouts) allocated to placebo or vitamin regimen, will be chosen. We realize that other components in people's diets have ability to produce or suppress inflammation, but our thinking is that (1) the randomization has the capacity to compensate for these effects, and (2) the vitamin supplements have shown a specific ability to significantly suppress homocysteine as a primary inflammatory agent.
After patients agree to participate, they will be further screened with a questionnaire to determine the nature of their back pain, checking off the characteristics that apply to them (Table 1).
TABLE 1: Back pain characteristics
COLUMN A:
* Gradual onset developed over 3+ months
* Pain improves with exercise
* Pain does not improve with rest
* Morning stiffness more than 30 minutes
* Pain at night may wake you up, especially 2nd half of night
COLUMN B: :
* Onset after an event, such as an accident, fall, etc.
* Pain often improves with rest
* Morning stiffness that improves in a few minutes
Patients checking at least 4 of the items in Column A and no more than one in Column B will be further admitted in the effort to obtain as large a sample of inflammatory back pain patients as possible. These participants will be asked to provide written consent to participate in the study after they have read through and understood this document. The participant will be coded (masked) with a 3-digit number that will remain with that individual throughout the duration of the study. The number will be put into a computer to randomize the individual into one of two groups labeled A and B, one of which will be assigned to take the vitamin pills and the other to take an equal number of placebo pills that have identical appearances. Active and placebo preparations will be labeled X and Y upon distribution so as to blind treating doctors as well as patients. The participant will be given questionnaires to assess pain, disability, and quality of life, and then the individual will be asked to return in 2 weeks and complete the questionnaires once again. At this time the participant will receive the chiropractic care that the and his or her doctor find to be best suited to that person's back pain. At the conclusion of the patient's visit, which should last no longer than 20 minutes, the participant will be given 1 pill of Standard Process B6 Niacinamide (#1280) and 3 pills of Standard Process Folic Acid B12 (#4410) or 4 placebo pills (1 matching #1280 lacking the vitamins + 3 matching #4410 lacking the vitamins) depending upon which group the individual have been assigned and told to take the 4 pills once a day between 8:30 am - 10:30 am each day and keep a written diary to that effect, noting any days that were missed and unexpected health events as well . The patient will also complete the same questionnaires a third time at the conclusion of this visit and then continue to visit his or her chiropractor as often as the individual and his or her doctor believe is warranted. Patients will complete the three questionnaires 30, 60, and 90 days after the commencement of treatment, at which time the taking of pills and the study is concluded. At that time, the participant will asked which of the groups A or B the individual believes that he or she was assigned to. When the final data is collated and analyzed, the participant will be informed of the results of the study.
