B Vitamin Supplementation to Chiropractic Management of Chronic LBP: Pilot Clinical Trial (VCLBP) (VCLBP)

August 26, 2024 updated by: Anthony Rosner, University of Western States

Efficacy and Duration of Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation in Chronic Back Pain With the Inclusion of Vitamins B6, B9, and B12: A Pilot, Placebo-Controlled, Double Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial

The purpose of this investigation is to assess the effects of a combination of B vitamins (B6 [pyridoxine],, B9 [folate], and B12 [cyanocobalamin] upon the efficacy and duration of spinal manipulation in its treatment of chronic low back pain. Outcome measures over a 12-week period include disability (the Oswestry Disability Index), pain (the Quadruple Visual Analog Scale), and quality of life (Short Form 36 Scale). A total of 60 patients are to be recruited by a single practicing chiropractor who will randomize consenting patients into two groups of 30, one of which will take 3 tablets of the Standard Process folic acid B12 and one tablet of Standard Process B6 Niacinamide between 8:30 - 10:30 am each day and the other 4 tablets of placebo fabricated by Standard Process. Both groups will receive treatments from their chiropractor in the manner they would normally experience as patients. Outcomes will be measured 2 weeks prior to commencing the protocol (baseline), at baseline, immediately upon commencing the protocol, and at one, 2, and 3 months following.. Hypotheses are as follows:

HO: Differences in the Oswestry Disability Index (primary outcome) between the experimental and placebo groups will not be clinically and statistically significant at 3 months of treatment.

HA: Differences in the Oswestry Disability Index (primary outcome) between the experimental and placebo groups will be clinically and statistically significant at 3 months of treatment.

Secondary outcomes will be evaluated in the same manner.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

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.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

60

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Oregon
      • Portland, Oregon, United States, 97230
        • University of Western States
        • Contact:
          • Anthony L Rosner, Ph.D.
          • Phone Number: 617-794-1372
          • Email: arosner@uws.edu
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Ages 18-60 Chronic inflammatory low back pain experienced constantly or frequently for at least 3 months

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Taking any of the vitamins B6, B12, or folic acid or a multivitamin capsule containing any of these vitamins within the past 15 days Not having been diagnosed with impaired renal function or impaired kidney disease Currently undergoing therapy for depression or suicidal ideation Presence of any red flag conditions, such as bowel, bladder, sexual or other dysfunctions Current involvement with medico-legal proceeding such as workers' compensation or claims Pregnancy

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Vitamin Administration
Vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid will be administered orally between 8:30 am - 10:30 am on day of chiropractic manipulation Chiropractic intervention will be applied Number of patients in arm anticipated: 30
Procedure: Spinal Manipulation
Daily administration of combination of vitamin B6,,vitamin B12, and folic acid
Other Names:
  • B vitamin supplementation
Placebo Comparator: Placebo Administration
Placebo pills equal in number and appearance to the B vitamins will be administered orally between 8:30 am - 10:30 am on day of chiropractic intervention Chiropractic intervention will be applied Number of patients in arm anticipated: 30
Procedure: Spinal Manipulation
Daily administration of combination of vitamin B6,,vitamin B12, and folic acid
Other Names:
  • B vitamin supplementation

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Oswestry Disability Index
Time Frame: 2 weeks prior to basel;ne, at baseline; time 0 immediately after first chiropractic treatment; 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days immediately after chiropractic treatment
Validated paper questionnaire
2 weeks prior to basel;ne, at baseline; time 0 immediately after first chiropractic treatment; 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days immediately after chiropractic treatment

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Quadruple Visual Analog Scale
Time Frame: 2 weeks prior to baseline; at baseline; time 0 immediately after first chiropractic treatment; 30 days, 60 days, amnd 90 days after chiropractic treatment
Validated paper questionnaire
2 weeks prior to baseline; at baseline; time 0 immediately after first chiropractic treatment; 30 days, 60 days, amnd 90 days after chiropractic treatment
Short Form (SF-36) Health Survey
Time Frame: 2 weeks prior to baseline; at baseline; time 0 immediately after first chiropractic treatment; 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days after chiropractic treatment
Validated paper questionnaire
2 weeks prior to baseline; at baseline; time 0 immediately after first chiropractic treatment; 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days after chiropractic treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Western States

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

November 15, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

April 1, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

October 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 26, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 26, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

August 29, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 29, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 26, 2024

Last Verified

August 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • SP Vitamin LBP

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Collated data statistical analysis, informed consent form will be available upon request.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Anticipated June 2025

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Certified professional/individual with institutional affilitation

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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