Low vitamin D levels are common in rheumatoid arthritis patients and may accelerate the progression of the disease. And long-term sustained inflammation, which can occur in rheumatoid arthritis, is associated with early mortality. Vitamin D supplementation has been associated with decreased inflammation in some studies. If you are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, low vitamin D could be causing you to experience increased pain.
Prevalance and Pathophysiology
The Centers for Disease Control estimate that 1.3 million Americans are affected by rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis causes painful inflammation of the joints due to the body's own immune system attacking itself and targeting the joints. Severe cases are characterized by permanent disfigurement of the joints and inflammation of the lungs, eyes and heart sac.
Deficiency Associated with Increased Pain
People who are vitamin D deficient experience more pain and are more likely to be disabled from rheumatoid arthritis. In a study published in the "Journal of Rheumatology," people with rheumatoid arthritis and a severe vitamin D deficiency had a greater number of painful joints compared to their non-deficient counterparts. A vitamin D supplement of 1,000 I.U. per day along with 800 mg of calcium decreased inflammatory cells, known as cytokines, which are associated with inflammatory auto-immune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Vitamin D Associated with Slower Progression
The severity and progression of rheumatoid arthritis may be lessened with vitamin D supplementation. Cantoma and researchers were able to slow the progression of arthritis in animal models by supplementing their diets with vitamin D.
Supplementation May Help
Most otherwise healthy people do not get enough vitamin D in their diets and supplementation along with moderate sun exposure may decrease health conditions associated with low vitamin D intake. In rheumatoid arthritis patients, obtaining adequate vitamin D could be life-changing by dramatically slowing the progression and severity of the disease. If you are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, monitoring of vitamin D levels and replacement therapy may help. Talk to your doctor about your vitamin D status to see if you may benefit from additional vitamin D.
References
- "The Journal of Rheumatology"; Prevalence of Vitamin D Insufficiency/Deficiency in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Associations with Disease Severity and Activity; Gail S. Kerr, et al; January 2011
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Rheumatoid Arthritis
- "Rheumatology"; Mortality in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Relationship to Single and Composite Measures of Disease Activity; J.C. Chehata, et al; 2002
- "Journal of Nutrition"; 1,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol Inhibits the Progression of Arthritis in murine Models of Human Arthritis; M.T. Cantoma, et al; January 1998
- "Journal of Rheumatology"; A Ray of Hope for Tender Joints: Vitamin D and Rheumatoid Arthritis; E.P. Cherniack; 2011
- "Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases"; Vitamin D Receptor Regulates Tnf-mediated Arthritis.; K. Zwerina, et al; March 2011
