Association Between Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo and Vitamin D Deficiency .

March 25, 2026 updated by: Ahmed Osama Rashad, Sohag University

Association Between Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo and Vitamin D Deficiency ; Sohag University Hospital Experience.

Association between Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo and Vitamin D deficiency

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Introduction Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common peripheral vestibular disorder, accounting for approximately 20-30% of vertigo cases in clinical practice. It is characterized by brief episodes of vertigo triggered by changes in head position, often due to dislodged otoconia in the semicircular canals. While canalith repositioning maneuvers like the Epley maneuver are highly effective for treatment, BPPV has a notable recurrence rate of 30-50% within the first year. The etiology remains largely idiopathic, but emerging evidence suggests a potential link to metabolic factors, particularly vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D plays a crucial role in calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism, which extends to the inner ear's otolithic apparatus, where calcium carbonate crystals (otoconia) are essential for vestibular function. Deficiency in vitamin D may impair otoconia maintenance, increasing susceptibility to dislodgement and thus BPPV onset or recurrence. Globally, vitamin D deficiency affects up to 1 billion people, with higher prevalence in regions like the Middle East due to limited sun exposure, dietary habits, and cultural factors such as veiling.54cc4a In Egypt, studies report deficiency rates exceeding 70% in the general population, exacerbated by urban lifestyles and pollution in areas like Sohag.

At Sohag University Hospital, a tertiary care center serving a large rural-urban population in Upper Egypt, BPPV constitutes a significant portion of otolaryngology consultations. Preliminary local data indicate a high BPPV incidence among young adults and the elderly, yet the role of vitamin D has not been systematically explored in this setting. This study addresses this gap by examining the association between serum vitamin D levels and BPPV, potentially informing preventive strategies like supplementation in high-risk groups.

Aim of the Work The primary aim is to investigate the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH D) levels and the presence of BPPV in patients attending the Otolaryngology Department and Audiovestibular unit at Sohag University Hospital. Secondary aims include identifying potential confounders (e.g., age, sex, comorbidities).

Patients and Methods Study Design: This is a hospital-based case-control study. Setting: Otolaryngology (ENT) Outpatient Clinic and Audiovestibular unit at Sohag University Hospital, Sohag, Egypt.

Study Duration: 5 months (recruitment period: April 2026 to September 2026) from approval of Medical Research Ethics Committee; till September 2026 data analysis: October 2026).

Sample Size: Eighty patients and 80 age- and sex-matched controls will be enrolled (total n=160).

Recruitment: Consecutive sampling. Cases will be identified from patients presenting with vertigo symptoms. Controls will be selected from non-vertigo ENT patients (e.g., those with sinusitis or hearing loss) during the same period to minimize selection bias.

Data Collection:

  • Demographic data (age, sex, etc.) via structured questionnaire.
  • Clinical history (vertigo duration, recurrence, comorbidities like osteoporosis or diabetes).
  • Full ENT examination including Dix Hallpike test to confirm the diagnosis of BPPV and exclude other causes of vertigo.
  • Serum 25-OH D levels measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Ethical Considerations: Approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Sohag Faculty of Medicine. Informed written consent obtained from all participants. Data confidentiality will be maintained.

Inclusion Criteria

  • Cases: Adults with a confirmed diagnosis of idiopathic BPPV based on positive Dix-Hallpike maneuver (nystagmus and vertigo lasting <1 minute).
  • Controls: Adults attending ENT clinic without history of vertigo or BPPV, confirmed by negative Dix-Hallpike test.

Exclusion Criteria

  • Known causes of secondary vertigo (e.g., Meniere's disease, vestibular neuritis, central vertigo).
  • Conditions affecting vitamin D metabolism (e.g., chronic kidney disease, malabsorption syndromes, hyperparathyroidism).
  • Use of medications interfering with vitamin D levels (e.g., anticonvulsants, glucocorticoids) in the past 3 months.
  • Pregnancy or lactation.
  • Inability to provide consent. Methodology This case-control study will compare serum 25-OH D levels between BPPV cases and controls to assess the odds of vitamin D deficiency (<30 ng/mL) in cases.
  • Step 1: Diagnosis Confirmation All participants undergo otoscopic examination and Dix-Hallpike testing.
  • Step 2: Laboratory Assessment Venous blood sampling for serum 25-OH D and calcium levels. Vitamin D status categorized as: deficiency (<20 ng/mL), insufficiency (20-30 ng/mL), sufficient (>30 ng/mL).
  • Step 3: Data Management Data entered into SPSS.
  • Step 4: Statistical Analysis Descriptive statistics: Means ± SD for continuous variables (e.g., vitamin D levels); frequencies for categorical (e.g., deficiency prevalence).

Inferential: Independent t-test; chi-square/Fisher's exact for categorical associations. Logistic regression to compute odds ratios (OR) for vitamin D deficiency and BPPV.

• Expected Outcomes: Anticipated higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in cases (OR >2), supporting supplementation as a preventive measure.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

160

Contacts and Locations

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

Study 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

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

Otolaryngology (ENT) Outpatient Clinic and Audiovestibular unit at Sohag University Hospital, Sohag, Egypt.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • • Cases: Adults with a confirmed diagnosis of idiopathic BPPV based on positive Dix-Hallpike maneuver (nystagmus and vertigo lasting <1 minute).

    • Controls: Adults attending ENT clinic without history of vertigo or BPPV, confirmed by negative Dix-Hallpike test.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Known causes of secondary vertigo (e.g., Meniere's disease, vestibular neuritis, central vertigo).

    • Conditions affecting vitamin D metabolism (e.g., chronic kidney disease, malabsorption syndromes, hyperparathyroidism).
    • Use of medications interfering with vitamin D levels (e.g., anticonvulsants, glucocorticoids) in the past 3 months.
    • Pregnancy or lactation.
    • Inability to provide consent.

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

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Level of Vitamin D in patients with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
Time Frame: From enrollment to 1 months after investigation
From enrollment to 1 months after investigation

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Sohag University

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)

March 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

September 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

October 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 19, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 19, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

March 25, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 30, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 25, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • Soh-Med-26-3-4MS

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

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.

Clinical Trials on Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

Clinical Trials on Vitamin D

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Hungary

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Subscribe