Autoimmune Vitamin D Deficiency

Autoimmune diseases are caused when the T cells in the body essentially malfunction and instead of protecting the body as typical immune cells do, they turn on the body's own cells. Some of the most recognized autoimmune diseases are rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis and Type 1 diabetes. A possible link has been established between autoimmune disease development and symptom regulation and vitamin D. The Office of Dietary Supplements notes that vitamin D is a nutrient that is responsible for absorbing calcium in the body and aiding the immune system.

Where Does Vitamin D Come From?

Vitamin D is acquired naturally by the skin during sun exposure. The body has the ability to create this vitamin through exposure to the UV rays from the sun. This sun exposure is the most effective way to get adequate amounts of vitamin D. It can also be acquired through natural foods such as wild salmon, though the amount is not very much per serving, and in order to receive the needed amount of vitamin D, you would need to eat a serving every day. It can also be found in fortified milk and cereals.

Deficiency

Dr. Michael Horlick, a leading researcher in vitamin D deficiency, estimates that 30 to 60 percent of individuals in the United States are vitamin D deficient, especially after the winter months. The preferred range of vitamin D in the blood is 30 to 60 ng, and many individuals fall well below this range. Sunscreen and the push for limited sun exposure due to the risk of skin cancer have led to many people avoiding the sun or covering themselves in sunscreen. This sunscreen blocks the body's ability to create vitamin D. Individuals with darker skin pigments are at higher risk for vitamin D deficiency because the darker pigment requires more exposure to sunlight in order to create vitamin D in the skin.

Link to Autoimmune Disease Development

Horlick believes that those who are vitamin D deficient in their first few years of life leave themselves open to the development of Type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases later in life. A study published in November 2010 in "Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatology" shows a possible connection between vitamin D deficiency and the risk factor in developing an autoimmune disease. Another study published in the "Israel Medical Association Journal" in March 2010 shows that increasing vitamin D levels enables the body to create more of the needed regulatory T cells and may help to prevent autoimmune diseases.

Link to Autoimmune Symptoms

While connections have been made to vitamin D deficiency and the risk of developing autoimmune diseases, the risk for increased symptoms is also an issue. According to the University of Washington Medicine, numerous studies have linked vitamin D and the increase in symptoms and deterioration in multiple sclerosis patients. One study in 2009 observed two groups of patients, with one receiving 4,000 ID/d of vitamin D and the other receiving 10,000 ID/d. After a year, the group receiving the lower dose showed a 38 percent increase in disability while the higher dose group only showed an 8 percent increase. A 2008 study published in "Journal of Inflammation" showed a link between vitamin D deficiency and inflammation, a symptom common in diseases such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Supplementing Vitamin D

Begin by talking with your physician and having your vitamin D level checked. Should a deficiency be determined, follow your doctor's recommendations for bringing your level up. Despite arguments from dermatologists, the best way to increase vitamin D intake is sun exposure. This does not require lengthy time spent in the sun, and Horlick suggests that during the spring, summer and fall months, 15 minutes at least three times a week during midday without sunscreen provides enough exposure for adequate vitamin D production. During the winter, vitamin D will need to be supplemented through foods and vitamin supplements. Fortified milk and cereals, as well as oily fish such as salmon, provide small levels of vitamin D. Horlick recommends that adults take 1,000 international units of vitamin D a day in order to maintain a healthy vitamin D level, especially throughout the winter.