Health problems, such as lupus, can impact the levels of the various vitamins in your body. Although lupus does not directly reduce your vitamin D levels, many people with lupus end up being low in vitamin D, though these deficiencies are not due to poor absorption. If you have lupus, talk to your doctor before taking vitamin D or any other supplement.
What is Vitamin D?
Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that can be made by your body or be obtained in your diet. The vitamin D that comes from food and that is made by your body must be chemically altered in your kidneys to be biologically active. One of the most prominent roles of vitamin D is in maintaining your bone health. Not only does vitamin D stimulate the activity of some cells needed for bone growth and remodeling, but your intestines need vitamin D to absorb calcium efficiently.
Lupus and Vitamin D Levels
Lupus is an autoimmune condition that is caused by the immune system attacking the normal healthy cells in the body. One of the main symptoms of lupus is a rash, and these rashes can be exacerbated by sunlight. As a result, many people with lupus avoid sunlight exposure. Your body needs sunlight to make vitamin D, so people with lupus often have decreased vitamin D synthesis due to decreased sun exposure. This can result in decreased levels of vitamin D in the blood.
Lupus and Vitamin D Absorption
Although people with lupus often have reduced levels of vitamin D, this does not appear to be related to poor absorption of vitamin D. Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, which means that it is better absorbed when consumed with a fat-containing meal. The amount of vitamin D that your body absorbs each day depends on the amount of vitamin D you ingest. Consuming extremely large amounts of vitamin D in one sitting or taking vitamin D on an empty stomach will reduce your body's absorption of this vitamin, but there is no maximum amount of vitamin D that your body can absorb each day, nor is your absorption of this vitamin affected by lupus.
Vitamin D Supplementation
If you do not have enough vitamin D in your body, your bones can become weak and easily fractured. However, you should talk to your doctor before taking vitamin D supplements, even if you have lupus and believe that your vitamin D levels are too low. Too much vitamin D can cause your calcium levels to get too high, causing muscle and neurological problems. High doses of vitamin D can also make your bones weaker, not stronger, so it is important to talk to a medical professional before taking vitamin supplements.
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