Research Tracker›Biomarker Atlas›Low Back Pain›Substance P

Substance P in Low Back Pain

Substance P belongs to the other group of Low Back Pain markers, but reports against patients with non-damaged CEPs point in different directions. Clinically, it has been associated with low back pain and disability. This entry summarises Huang et al. 2021. Group-level associations like this do not translate into an individual diagnostic cut-off.

↕ InconsistentOther

Summary

Direction in Low Back Pain↕ Inconsistent — reported as both higher and lower across studies, with no consistent direction
CategoryOther
Compared againstpatients with non-damaged CEPs
Associated symptomslow back pain and disability
SourceHuang et al. 2021 — doi:10.1111/joa.13321
Condition atlasLow Back Pain Biomarker Atlas

Related Other markers in Low Back Pain

Full list: Low Back Pain Biomarker Atlas.

Frequently asked questions

Is Substance P high or low in Low Back Pain?

Mixed. Some studies report higher and others lower Substance P in Low Back Pain compared with patients with non-damaged CEPs, so no single direction is established. Source: Huang et al. 2021.

What symptoms is Substance P associated with in Low Back Pain?

The cited literature associates this marker with low back pain and disability. These are population-level associations and do not mean the marker causes the symptoms.

Which test measures Substance P?

The atlas record does not list a standardised clinical test code (LOINC) for Substance P, which usually means it was measured with research assays or study-specific protocols rather than a routine clinical panel. Check the cited source for the exact method.

Is one abnormal Substance P result diagnostic of Low Back Pain?

No. No single biomarker is diagnostic of Low Back Pain. Substance P findings come from group comparisons, overlap considerably between patients and controls, and vary with study design, timing and comparison group. A result should be interpreted by a clinician alongside symptoms, history and other tests.

Cite this page

Open Source Medicine Foundation. (2026). Substance P in Low Back Pain: direction, evidence and what it means. OSMF Research Tracker. Retrieved October 8, 2026, from https://research.opensourcemed.info/biomarkers/low-back-pain/substance-p.html
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Last reviewed: 2026-10-08 · Page generated from low-back-pain.json · Browse: Low Back Pain atlas · Biomarker Index · All marker pages

Disclaimer: This page is an educational synthesis of published, peer-reviewed research and is not medical advice. Biomarker findings vary across studies with case definitions, comparison groups, timing and assay methods. Direction of change reflects the predominant finding in the cited source and does not establish a diagnostic threshold. Discuss any test result with a qualified clinician.