The main objective of this study is to determine whether the administration of a single dose of Vitamin D in the Emergency Department following a motor vehicle collision can improve musculoskeletal pain severity as well as reduce musculoskeletal pain outcome disparity between Blacks and White following a motor vehicle collision. This randomized controlled trial is a pilot study to determine feasibility and potential efficacy (response to study drug, ability to reduce racial disparity in pain outcomes). This data can be used to adequately power a larger randomized controlled trial to fully assess efficacy.

Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are one of the most common traumatic stress exposures in the US, and the most common for which individuals seek emergency department (ED) care. More than 1 million Black Americans (Blacks) come to the ED after MVC each year, and >90% of such ED MVC patients are discharged home with a diagnosis of acute musculoskeletal pain (MSP)/strain only. More than 80% of these individuals report acute moderate or severe (mod/sev) MSP in the ED, and >50% of those with acute mod/sev MSP transition to chronic MSP. MVCs, as well as pain after MVC, disproportionately affect Blacks vs. Whites. For example, in previous cohort studies 67% of Blacks had mod/sev MSP six months after MVC, vs. only 40% of Whites. Interventions are urgently needed that prevent chronic MSP and reduce these MSP outcome disparities.

One safe, inexpensive, widely available, and well-tolerated intervention, with exciting potential to achieve these goals, is Vitamin D (Vitamin D). The dose of Ergocalciferol that the investigators propose, 300,000 IU, has been shown to effectively raise Vitamin D concentration by ~9 ng/ml, and to raise serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D concentration above 30 ng/ml (Vitamin D sufficient levels) for over 3 months5. The ability of this single-dose protocol to raise Vitamin D will be a primary feasibility endpoint of this pilot study.

Importantly, this dose is extremely well-tolerated: in previous trials, reports of side effects/adverse events is rare,6 many studies administering single, high-dose regimens report no side effects7-9, and the most common side effects have been mild GI complaints (e.g. nausea).6 Vitamin D administration has also been demonstrated to be safe, even among individuals who are already Vitamin D sufficient. 10-12

Chronic pain is associated with reduced mental and physical health and interferes with essential activities of daily life. Currently there are limited treatment options to address chronic pain once it has become established and the overarching aim of this clinical trial is to prevent chronic pain development, therefore there is a critical unmet need of safe, non-addictive, non-invasive preventative treatment options that can be administered to MVC survivors in the aftermath of an injury. This study has the potential to benefit participants and future MVC survivors and improve pain and general health outcomes. The risks of taking Vitamin D are small. Side effects from Vitamin D are rare, however, it is possible that over supplementation of Vitamin D may be associated with headache, loss of appetite, dry mouth, metallic taste, and nausea/vomiting.

Primary Objective:

1. Assess the feasibility of the Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) protocol by (a) calculating recruitment rate and participant retention, and (b) measuring the ability of Vitamin D administration to generate sustained increases in whole-blood Vitamin D concentrations (assessed 3 months after MVC).
2. To demonstrate the preliminary efficacy of Vitamin D administration per protocol on decreasing overall MSP severity during the 3 months following MVC, and reducing MSP outcome disparity between Blacks and Whites following MVC.

Secondary Objectives:

The investigators will assess the effect of race and sex on treatment outcomes in secondary analyses. This will be accomplished using two analytic strategies. First, a sex X treatment interaction term (secondary analyses) will be entered into the statistical models to assess pain reduction in response to treatment. Second, a stratified analysis will be performed which will examine the influence of both sex and race on treatment effect on primary and secondary outcomes. Further, Secondary stratified analyses evaluate the influence of initial vitamin D level on treatment response. In addition, exploratory analyses on the relationship of vitamin D outcome and trajectory of pain as well as restricting analyses to participants with vitamin D deficiency at baseline will be performed. Secondary analyses will examine treatment effects adjusting for any baseline differences in psychosocial factors between treatment arms.

Long-Term Aims Beyond the Present Proposal:

To use data collected to design and adequately power a larger-scale RCT assessing the efficacy of Vitamin D treatment in decreasing chronic pain in high-risk patients presenting for treatment in the aftermath of MVC and to reduce racial disparity in pain outcomes following MVC.

Described the sequence of events in recruiting 90 patients in a multi-center randomized controlled trial. To assess a key primary outcome, 50% white and 50% black MVC will be enrolled into the study. Each participant will be screened in based on a point of care Vitamin D test. This will be performed at the time of screening. Individuals with a Vitamin D level <100 ng/ml will be enrolled. Patients will be randomized 1:1 to receive a single dose of 300,000 IU of ergocalciferol versus placebo and followed for 3 months. At 3 months, patients will send a blood sample easily collected at home on a blood spot card to assess Vitamin D level 3 months following injury which is a key feasibility primary outcome.

Patients presenting to the ED within 24 hours of MVC (n=90, 45 non-Hispanic Black, and 45 non-Hispanic White) will receive a single dose of study drug prior to ED discharge (1:1 allocation 300,000 IU ergocalciferol or placebo). Prior to study drug administration, a baseline assessment will be performed (see below), and a fingerstick blood sample will be obtained to evaluate 25-hydroxyvitamin D level. Telephone follow-ups assessing primary and secondary outcomes and potential adverse events will be performed 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months after ED enrollment by study Research Assistants using web-based REDCap™ software. At 3 months, participants will also perform fingerstick blood collection at home and mail to the study team to enable assessment of 3 month 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration by treatment group.

Inclusion Criteria:

• ≥ 18 years and ≤ 65 years of age
• Admitted to ED within 24 hours of motor vehicle collision
• Plan to discharge to home from the emergency department
• Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study (with the exception of the blood draw sample collected in the ED, which is optional)
• Has a smartphone with continuous service >1 year
• Able to speak and read English
• Alert and oriented, and capable of engaging in informed consent
• Willing to take on-time dose of study medication (6 capsules of Vitamin D or placebo)
• Non-Hispanic white or non-Hispanic black
• Point of care Vitamin D level <100 ng/ml
• During ED admission pain severity must be at least 4/10 or higher

Exclusion Criteria:

• Substantial comorbid injury (e.g., long bone fracture)
• Pregnancy/breastfeeding
• Prisoner status
• Chronic daily opioid use prior to MVC (>20 mg oral daily morphine equivalents)
• Active psychosis, suicidal ideation, or homicidal ideation
• Plans for hospital admission
• Known chronic kidney disease, stage 4 or higher (GFR≤29)
• Intubated and sedated at time of enrollment
• Inability to provide informed consent (receipt of sedative, hypnotic agent making the patient non-decisional for consent)
• Vitamin D supplements in excess of 800 IU daily
• Any other history or condition that would, in the site investigator's judgement, indicate that the patient would very likely be non-compliant with the study or unsuitable for the study (e.g., might interfere with the study, confound interpretation, or endanger patient)

Deidentified individual data that supports the results will be shared on request provided the investigator who proposes to use the data has approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB), Independent Ethics Committee (IEC), or Research Ethics Board (REB), as applicable, and executes a data use/sharing agreement with the University of North Carolina (UNC).

Beginning 12 months following publication and continuing for 36 months

Investigator has approved IRB, IEC, or REB and an executed data use/sharing agreement with UNC.

30 days after receiving the study drug; participants received study drug within 24 hours of motor vehicle collision

In addition to the clinicaltrials.gov definition, a preexisting condition was recorded as an adverse event if the frequency, intensity, or the character of the condition worsened during the study period. All unresolved adverse events were followed by the investigator until the events were resolved, the subject was lost to follow-up, or the adverse event was otherwise explained.

High rate of missing Vitamin D levels at 3-months could impact findings.

This will be a blinded study. Investigators, participants, and coordinators will be blinded to the treatment assignment. Active and placebo treatments will be indistinguishable.