The IP address used for your Internet connection is part of a subnet that has been blocked from access to PubMed Central. Addresses across the entire subnet were used to download content in bulk, in violation of the terms of the PMC Copyright Notice. Use of PMC is free, but must comply with the terms of the Copyright Notice on the PMC site. For additional information, or to request that your IP address be unblocked, For requests to be unblocked, you must include all of the information in the box above in your message.Vitamin D is essential for everyone, but it may be even more vital to people who have rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Many people with RA have lower levels of vitamin D than people without the condition, according to research published in the Journal of the Association of the Physicians of India in 2014. That leads some researchers to believe that not only may low levels trigger the development of RA, but they may also cause people's symptoms to worsen, too.“As in nearly all autoimmune or chronic inflammatory diseases, it appears that lower levels of 25OH vitamin D — although there is not agreement on how low is low — are associated with a more aggressive disease or a worse response to treatments,” explains rheumatologist Carlo Selmi, MD, PhD, assistant professor of rheumatology at the University of Milan and head of the clinical immunology and autoimmunity and metabolism lab at the Humanitas Clinical and Research Center in Italy.
(Autoimmune disorders are diseases in which the immune system turns against tissues in the body and damages them. These include multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes as well as RA.)These were the findings of a small study of 37 people with RA who had follow-up testing a year after their diagnosis. Those who had low levels of vitamin D had increased disease activity over that year and didn't respond as quickly or effectively to treatment. The study was published in March 2015 in the journal BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders.Besides the acknowledged role of vitamin D in bone health, researchers now know that vitamin D plays an intrinsic part in the functioning of many other systems in the body, including the immune system, according to a review of vitamin D research published in the July 2013 issue of Nutrients.Vitamin D and the Immune SystemSome evidence — mostly coming from animal studies — is available to explain what effects vitamin D could have in the immune system that influence the development of RA, says Margherita Cantorna, PhD, a distinguished professor of molecular immunology at Penn State in University Park, whose research interests include autoimmune diseases and vitamin D.
According to Dr. Cantorna, vitamin D inhibits the part of your immune system that is known to cause inflammation in arthritis. Less inflammation means fewer symptoms from RA.RELATED: 5 Illnesses Linked to Vitamin D DeficiencyYour doctor can check your levels and recommend supplemental vitamin D if necessary. Adults need 600 IU of vitamin D daily, according to recommendations from the Office of Dietary Supplements. Your doctor might recommend that you take more, depending on your overall health needs.Since your heart health may suffer when you have RA, you may be further threatened if you're also deficient in vitamin D, says rheumatologist S. Louis Bridges, MD, PhD, professor and director of the division of clinical immunology and rheumatology at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. So, regardless of the debate about vitamin D and any direct effect on RA activity, Dr. Bridges tests his patients for vitamin D levels and recommends supplements as needed for better overall health as well as bone health.
How to Get Your Daily Vitamin DFor many people, sunlight is an easy source of vitamin D. When your skin is exposed to ultraviolet B radiation, a compound in your skin is converted into vitamin D. But many people are missing out. Wearing sunscreen with an SPF of just 8 almost completely blocks the creation of vitamin D in your skin.People with dark skin tones, such as African-Americans, make little vitamin D in their skin from sunlight; older people, those who are homebound, and people with digestive diseases that prevent absorption also make a decreased amount. Few foods naturally contain vitamin D, with the exception of certain oily fish and egg yolks. Milk and some other foods are now fortified with D, but may not provide enough on a daily basis.So whether you’re worried about your bone health or about the role vitamin D plays in RA, ask your doctor about testing your vitamin D levels. You may need to modify your diet or take a supplement to see a decrease in your symptoms and help protect your bones.
Additional reporting by Madeline Vann, MPH.Vitamin D and Minerals That Help Rheumatoid Arthritis Eating for rheumatoid arthritis Can vitamins, minerals, and other nutritional supplements help ease pain and stiffness related to rheumatoid arthritis (RA)? Diet plays a part in many chronic conditions. you have RA, failing to get proper nutrition might make your symptoms worse. enough vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients might help relieve your symptoms and lower your risk of complications. Keep reading to learn more about some of the vitamins, minerals, and supplements that may help you stay healthy with RA. A healthy dose of vitamin D Everyone needs vitamin D. It helps your body absorbIt also helps your bones grow properly and stay strong. Getting enough vitamin D may be especially important for people with RA. That’s because some RA medications can raise your risk of vitamin D deficiencies. This can lead to complications.
Why people with RA need vitamin D According to researchers from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, people who take oral steroids have a heightened risk of vitamin D deficiency. If you take corticosteroids for RA, you’re twice as likely to be short on this crucial vitamin than the average If you don’t get enough vitamin D, your bones can become soft and brittle. This can raise your risk of bone fractures, deformities, and other problems. For people with RA, vitamin D can have additional benefits: RA is an autoimmune disorder, and vitamin D plays a role in the immune system. People with RA also have high levels of inflammation, and vitamin D helps mediate this condition. If you have RA, get your vitamin D levels checked regularly, and take steps to correct any nutritional deficiencies. Spend some time in the sun To increase your vitamin D levels, the Arthritis Foundation recommends getting 10 to 15 minutes of sunlight exposure
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun helps your body produce its own vitamin D. However, too much UV ray exposure can cause skinDon’t spend too much time in the sun with your Eat foods rich in vitamin D You can also get more vitamin D by adjusting yourFor example, this important vitamin is found in certain types of fish, such as salmon and mackerel. Small amounts of it are also found in egg yolks, cheese, and beef liver. Few other foods contain vitamin D naturally. However, some are fortified with it. For example, vitamin D is added to many brands of milk, cheese, and breakfast cereals. It’s important for people with RA to get their vitamin D levels checked. If you can’t get enough vitamin D from sunlight and diet alone, your doctor may suggest taking a vitamin D supplement. Vitamin D isn’t the only important nutrient when youAccording to the John Hopkins Arthritis Center, vitamin E deficiency is also relatively common
among people with RA. E is a potent antioxidant. Some people believe it might help decrease damage to the linings of your joints. In turn, this might help reduce pain and More research is needed to test this theory. true or not, it’s a good idea to include vitamin-E rich foods in your diet, such as nuts, seeds, and leafy green vegetables. In some cases, your doctor may also advise you to take a vitamin E supplement. Folic acid and bromelain Other supplements may also help relieve joint pain and reduce your risk of complications from RA treatments. (MTX) is part of your RA treatment, you may need to take a folicAnother name for folic acid is vitaminMTX affects your body’s ability to absorb it. If you don’t get enough vitamin B9, you may develop anemia or other health problems. Your doctor may also encourage you to take bromelain. This compound is made from a group of enzymes derived from pineapple. According to the Arthritis